Penalty miss costs Hawks

The visitors dominated the opening stages, going ahead through a Leon Antoine header after 11 minutes. The hosts fought back and equalised through Ryan Crisp, before he scored his second of the game a minute before half-time.

Harlow could have drawn level when they were awarded a penalty, but for the second game in a row Alex Read couldn’t convert the spot kick. Craig Pope bundled a goal home from close range to equalise and set up an action-packed finish.

Despite throwing everything at the opposition in the final part of the game, Harlow couldn’t find the breakthrough, and with a share of the spoils the Hawks saw their winning run end at 12 games.

Harlow showed their intentions with just six minutes on the clock when a dipping free kick from Mario Noto struck the bar, and Harlow were keen to put an early stamp on the game.

After a period of pressure, a corner from Mario Noto was headed in by Leon Antoine from six yards out, with the well-placed effort finding the top corner and leaving the Dereham goalkeeper no chance.

Dereham almost drew level when a cross reached Craig Bussens unmarked at the back post. He was denied at close range by Hawks stopper David Hughes who got both hands behind the ball to push it out to safety.

The hosts did draw level soon after when Bussens delivered a dangerous cross to Ryan Crisp, whose glancing header found the top right corner.

With half an hour played, Joe Benjamin’s cut back cross was met superbly by Mario Noto who volleyed just wide of the post.

The game was becoming a scrappy affair, with the referee awarding a series of niggling free-kicks that broke up the tempo of the game. The regular breaks in play seemed to suit the hosts, as much as it disrupted the rhythm of the Harlow team.

David Hughes was once again called upon to tip a good effort wide of the post, while at the other end appeals for a foul on Leon Antoine in the penalty box were waved away.

With just a couple of minutes until the half-time whistle, Dereham took the lead for the first time in the game. Harlow conceded a needless free kick 25 yards out, and despite getting a hand to the left-footed shot, Hughes couldn’t keep the ball out.

HT: Dereham Town 2-1 Harlow Town

Soon after the re-start, a bouncing ball fell to Dereham right-back Vadim Constandachi in the area, but a diving header from Leon Antoine cleared the ball off the line.

Ryan Melaugh, who replaced Joe Benjamin at half time, then set Alex Read through on goal, but being hassled by two defenders the striker wasn’t able to get the shot on target.

Alex Read was then denied by another great save after running onto a flick-on header from Leon Antoine. Read cut back inside before shooting, but a great reaction save from Will Viner kept the ball out when he got a hand to it.

Just a minute later, the Hawks were given an opportunity to draw level. Alex Read was fouled in the box with the referee pointing to the spot. Read, who had put a penalty wide in the last game, got the penalty on target, but effort was tame and saved by the goalkeeper’s legs.

A long delay followed when the referee limped off injured, and with the assistant referee deputising for him, a replacement had to be found to run the line. A suitable qualified Dereham fan was found, and with a new man in charge on the pitch the game began to flow much more.

Jared Small saw a close range blocked on the line, before Harlow equalised a minute later with 76 minutes played. Junior Dadson crossed into the danger area, and a bundled finish from Craig Pope saw the ball over the line.

With their tails up but time running out, the Harlow players sensed there could still be a winner and threw everything at the Dereham defence.

Junior Dadson’s effort from the edge of the box went just wide of the post, while Jared Small’s shot from inside the area was deflected wide for a corner.

Dadson once again sent a low show inches away from the post, before Ryan Melaugh almost won the game in the sixth minute of injury time. A cross was cleared to the edge of the area for the winger to volley, but Dereham custodian Viner tipped onto the post to undoubtedly save his side a point.

FT: Dereham Town 2-2 Harlow Town
ATTENDANCE: 245

The Hawks remain in second, with 73 points from 34 games. Although the winning run came to an end, they are still unbeaten in 14 games, with only one defeat in the last 18.

Harlow have another long away trip in the next game, when they visit Soham Town Rangers on Tuesday 23rd February.