Hawks bury visitors

Left-back Layne Eadie finished off a wonderful move to put the hosts ahead, before a sublime free kick from Mario Noto on the stroke of half-time doubled the lead.

The visitors were unable to mount any challenge to the Harlow defence, and with no team above them in the league table managing a win, the 6th win in a row moved the Hawks into the playoff places.

Bury had started the game brightly, and as one of the early season contenders for promotion, the two sides sized each other up in the opening minutes. Striker Ollie Hughes pounced on a short back-pass header from Ibrahima Sonko, but namesake and Hawks stopper David Hughes spread himself well to save the shot.

Harlow striker Alex Read saw a speculative effort from distance go just over the bar, before Bury went close to putting the ball in the back of the net. A cleared corner fell to Bury captain Phil Weavers, who shot straight back at goal. Layne Eadie was on hand to clear off the line and keep the score level.

The Hawks created chances as they settled and started move the ball around more freely. Ibrahima Sonko had his shot tipped around the post, before Junior Dadson’s deep cross was agonisingly close to being converted by Alex Read at the back post.

The home side took the lead just after the half-hour mark. Fabion Simms picked out a pass to Piers Wixon, whose delightful ball put Layne Eadie in behind the defence on the overlap. With Eadie bearing down on goal, he deftly chipped over the goalkeeper with the outside of his boot for a great finish.

Harlow continued to press, with striker Alex Read having a close range effort blocked by a last-ditch tackle from Darcy De'Ath.

With the half coming to an end, Read was then fouled on the edge of the area which gave the Hawks the opportunity to double the lead. Mario Noto stepped up, scoring a free kick that David Beckham would have been proud of. He curled the ball up and over the wall, nestling into the top corner.

HT: Harlow Town 2-0 Bury Town

The visitors’ attacks were few and far between before the break, but they were non-existent in the second period. The Harlow defence was solid to a man, and snuffed out each attack before Bury had time to trouble the Hawks stopper.

Junior Dadson almost made it three, when a quick one-two with Jared Small put him into the area. The winger cut onto his left foot, before letting fly a shot that cannoned off the bar and out of play.

Junior Dadson then saw another effort blocked, which fell into the path of Fabion Simms. Simms looked up tried placing a shot around the ‘keeper and towards goal, but it went just wide of the post.

With time almost up, Piers Wixon almost capped a fantastic performance with a goal. Fabion Simms set up the striker, but Bury ‘keeper Neil O’Sullivan was equal to the shot.

A superb team display nullified any threat to the Harlow goal and with the Hawks attack in fine form the result was a comfortable win.

FT: Harlow Town 2-0 Bury Town
ATTENDANCE: 216

The result moves Harlow into 5th in the league table, closing the gap on the top four.

Harlow now travel to Romford on Wednesday 20th January, for a 7:45pm kick off.