Merstham were reduced to 10 men after a rash tackle saw Marc Okoye given a straight red card. The Hawks took the lead soon after when Lawrence Yiga drilled in a low shot from inside the area.

Harlow were on top in the second period, but it took until the 81st minute for Mario Noto to double the lead. Merstham’s Tutu Henriques scored a consolation in injury time, but Harlow secured the win that moved them to 9th in the table.

The Hawks started well, with most of the possession in the opening 15 minutes, but they were wasteful with the final ball and couldn’t create noteworthy opportunities at goal.

The firs t real chance to break the deadlock came for the visitors, when Dan Bennett played in Tom Kavanagh behind the Harlow defence. David Hughes reacted quickly, saving at the attacker’s feet.

Alex Read then went close when a slick one-two with Mario Noto set up the striker inside the box, but he was dispossessed by a sliding tackle before he could release a shot.

Both teams were unable to break down the others’ defence and chances were few and far between. Mario Noto blazed over from inside the box, before Khale da Costa stole the ball before feeding to Alex Read. The striker’s first touch took it away from him, and leaning back the shot flew over the bar.

Merstham were also wasteful with their limited opportunities. Tom Kavanagh tried his luck from 25 yards out but it went high and wide, before Dan Bennett wasted a good chance from inside the area.

The visitors had to play two thirds of the game with only 10 men. With Layne Eadie on the attack down the left, Marc Okoye flew across the pitch with a very late sliding tackle leaving the Harlow left back in a heap on the floor. The referee pulled out a red card, leaving Merstham with a difficult challenege for the remainder of the game.

The Hawks took the lead five minutes later. Khale da Costa once again dispossessed Merstham defender Antone Douglas, before laying off to Lawrence Yiga. Yiga powered a low shot across goal into the bottom corner to put Harlow ahead just before half time.

HT: Harlow Town 1-0 Merstham

Harlow came out strongly in the second half, as Merstham’s disadvantage began to show. Still though, the Hawks didn’t really test visiting stopper Josh Smith.

Ryan Melaugh sent an effort over the bar after a good pass from Khale da Costa, before da Costa himself squandered a difficult volley that went wide of the post.

Mario Noto chested down a Craig Pope cross before volleying, but he didn’t get a clean connection and it dragged wide.

Jared Small powered a cross across goal, but it was too difficult for Alex Read to control inside the box to get a shot off.

Merstham’s Callum Willock made a mazy run down the left hand side, before cutting inside. Craig Pope, who had been solid all game, timed the tackle to perfection to remove the danger.

As the game entered the final ten minutes the Hawks got the second goal they had been searching for. Fabion Simms and Alex Read combined to release Jared Small into space. Small crossed from the byline to Mario Noto who slid in to convert, doubling the lead.

The visitors pulled a goal back in injury time when a deep cross was met by unmarked Tutu Henriques at the back post. His header looped back across goal and over David Hughes, but it was too little, too late for Merstham who had battled bravely.

FT: Harlow Town 2-1 Merstham
ATTENDANCE: 208

The result moves Harlow into 9th position at the halfway stage of the season, with 33 points from 23 games.

Next up, the Hawks travel to Enfield Town on Boxing Day. It’s a 1pm kick off.