Jammers hold Hawks to stalemate

Harlow took the lead through Alex Read during a first half that had few talking points, but the hosts pulled a goal back in the second half with a quick counter-attacking move.

Both sides had opportunities to snatch all three points after the break, but the best chance fell to the hosts as they squandered a penalty to leave both sides with a point each.

Harlow were looking to bounce back from a second defeat in three games, but the opening half an hour proved to be a cagey affair. The visitors had the majority of possession, but weren’t able to fashion any significant chances.

Most of the play was in the hosts’ half, with Harlow’s Ibrahima Sonko swatting away any forward balls aimed for the Maldon & Tiptree front line.

Fabion Simms went closest for the Hawks when his header from a corner went over the crossbar, while at the other end Chris Regis had a shot from within the area that went harmlessly high of the goal.

The first shot on target went in, after 25 minutes played. A corner from Mario Noto was headed down by Fabion Simms to Alex Read at the back post. Read instinctively rifled the ball into the roof of the net to put the Hawks ahead.

The half saw little else in the way of action, but the visitors took a slender lead into the break.

HT: Maldon & Tiptree 0-1 Harlow Town

Both sides were noticeably brighter after the break, with Maldon & Tiptree having their first good chance straight from the kick off. Former Harlow player Rhys Henry went through on goal, but scuffed the effort wide.

The Hawks upped their game in response, and had a period of pressure where it looked as though they might double the lead. A series of corners led to Ibrahima Sonko sending a header goalwards, but Shaun Phillips got down low to save well. With 58 minutes played, it was the first time either of the goalkeepers had been truly tested.

There was a lengthy break in play as Harlow left-back sustained an injury and had to be substituted, and the stoppage seemed to galvanise the hosts. They had another half-chance when Tarryn Allarakhia smashed over from the edge of the area.

The equaliser came on 68 minutes. A blistering counter-attack saw Allarakhia streak away down the right wing, brushing off challenges from Joe Benjamin and Ryan Melaugh as he went. A square ball into Darren McQueen was finished low past David Hughes.

Harlow looked to re-assert themselves on the game, but weren’t able to take control of possession. Fabion Simms had a chance from the edge of the area that should have tested the ‘keeper but went well over the bar.

A neat one-two between Ryan Melaugh and Mario Noto put Noto into the area, but his curling shot just went wide of the post.

Maldon & Tiptree had a chance to clinch the win when they were awarded a penalty with two minutes of normal time remaining. Jared Small was adjudged to have fouled inside the box, and Darren Mills stepped up to take the spot-kick. With the three points in his grasp, he blazed over to the relief of the travelling support.

There was still time for a final Harlow attack when Junior Dadson battled his way to the byline. His cross was flashed agonisingly across the face of goal, but with no Harlow player on hand to tap it in, the ball was cleared and the two sides took a deserved point each.

FT: Maldon & Tiptree 1-1 Harlow Town
ATTENDANCE: 146

The result sees the Hawks drop into fourth place behind Cray Wanderers, courtesy of an inferior goal difference. Cray and Harlow both have 77 points, but Harlow do also have two games in hand over Cray and second-placed Thurrock.

Next up, the Hawks travel to Romford to play the several-times postponed league fixture. The game is on Wednesday 23rd March, with a 7:45pm kick off.