Gr-eight win for Hawks

The Hawks took an early lead after Junior Dadson tapped in a close-range finish, but the visitors were soon back in it through a well-taken penalty. Mario Noto let fly a shot from distance to re-take the lead, before a late second from Dadson sealed the win for the hosts.

Harlow could have considered themselves lucky not to have conceded within the first few minutes, when a misplaced defensive header fell to the lively Junior Luke. The winger struck a powerful shot from the edge of the area that careered off the crossbar and bounced down onto the goal-line, eventually being hacked clear by the Harlow defence.

With the initial scare out of the way, Harlow upped the pace and took the lead on 12 minutes. Joe Benjamin latched onto a long ball forward, before knocking the ball past right-back Billy Coyne, leaving the defender in his wake. Benjamin reached the byline and cut back for Junior Dadson who tapped home from a yard out.

Hornchurch were lively on the counter-attack, and the visitors forced the equaliser on 18 minutes. The league’s leading goal-scorer George Purcell burst clear of the defence on the right flank, and with Ibrahima Sonko coming across to cover, a mistimed challenge left the referee no option but to point to the spot. The striker picked himself up to blast the penalty down the centre, drawing his team level.

Harlow almost re-took the lead, when Joe Benjamin again put in a cross from the byline. Fabion Simms shot towards the bottom corner from 15 yards, and although the goalkeeper was beaten, Jed Chouman was on hand to block on the line and clear for a corner.

Both sides were probing the opposition defence. Joe Benjamin saw his shot blocked at one end, before David Knight was denied by a last-ditch Ibrahima Sonko tackle at the other.

Just before half-time however, the Hawks retook the lead. Jared Small played out from defence to Mario Noto on the right wing. Noto advanced to the corner of the goal area, and when it looked as though he was about to pick out a cross, he unleashed a thunderbolt that flew across the goal and into the opposite top corner for a fantastic finish.

HT: Harlow Town 2-1 AFC Hornchurch

The second half was a tamer affair, with the Harlow defence snuffing out the majority of Hornchurch attacks before they could trouble David Hughes in the home net. David Knight put one effort over, while Chouman and Luke both blazed over from distance.

Jared Small’s great run forward for the hosts set up a shooting attempt for Piers Wixon, but the striker put the ball just wide of the post, before a long-range effort from Junior Dadson went over.

With just a single goal separating the teams, as the half wore on there was a feeling that a goal for either side would be decisive, and it was the Hawks who struck the killer blow.

The visitors cleared a corner and Fabion Simms, with his back to goal, put the ball over his head and into the danger area. Junior Dadson hit the volley first time, leaving Hornchurch ‘keeper Sam Mott no chance.

Although the visitors had their fair share of possession, the Hawks defence held firm and restricted their chances, and the home side saw out a deserved win that stretches the winning run to eight games.

FT: Harlow Town 3-1 AFC Hornchurch
ATTENDANCE: 298

Harlow stay in 5th, but 4th-placed Cray wanderers are now just one point ahead. The Hawks have 60 points from 29 games.

Next up for the Harlow is another difficult game, travelling to Thurrock on Tuesday 2nd February. It’s a 7:45pm kick off.