Hawks unbeaten run comes to end

The Suffolk side knew that a win would send them to the summit of the league table, and a goal either side of half-time from former Hawk Reece Dobson proved the difference in a closely contested game.

Alex Read had equalised for the visitors, but Harlow will feel aggrieved to not take anything from a game in which they created chances.

Needham Market started strongly in wet conditions, and could have taken the lead early in the game. A good cross from Reece Dobson picked out Luke Ingram in the middle, but the scuffed shot didn’t trouble the Harlow goal.

Dobson put the hosts ahead on 15 minutes with a well-taken goal. Receiving the ball from Luke Ingram at a tight angle, he curled a shot into the top corner to take the lead.

An unusual stoppage in play then held up the game for ten minutes. The referee had taken a knock to the head in a collision, and a dizzy spell meant that he couldn’t continue. Luckily, a qualified referee was in the crowd and one of the referee’s assistants was able to take over in the middle.

The hosts created further chances when Luke Ingram set up Darryl Coakley and Ollie Snaith, but they were wasteful as they failed to convert the opportunities.

Harlow had been pushing forward more since falling behind, and both Alex Read and Joe Benjamin had shots on goal where they failed to hit the target.

With the visitors ramping up the pressure, they duly found an equaliser on 25 minutes. Ibrahima Sonko knocked down the ball, and Needham defender Jake Dye failed to clear the danger. Alex Read pounced on the error and buried the loose ball.

HT: Needham Market 1-1 Harlow Town

The second period was an end-to-end affair with each side sensing they could earn a win from the game.

Needham almost restored their lead soon after the restart. Luke Ingram had a great opportunity from close range, but Harlow stopper David Hughes blocked well to clear the threat.

Needham goalkeeper Danny Gay kept the visitors at bay with a couple of great stops to keep the score level.

Reece Dobson seemed to have missed his chance to put the hosts ahead again when he fluffed a wonderful opportunity, but a minute later made up for it with another well taken goal. With David Hughes off his line, Dobson chipped over and into the net to score the decisive goal.

With a good performance under his belt and a hat-trick on the cards, Dobson smashed over from 10 yards out to give the Hawks hope going into the final 15 minutes.

Despite piling on the pressure as the clock ticked away, Harlow were unable to find the breakthrough and fell to their first defeat in six league games.

FT: Needham Market 2-1 Harlow Town
ATTENDANCE: 225

Harlow remain in 11th in the league table with 30 points from 21 league games.

Next up, the Hawks travel to another promotion-chasing side in Leiston on Saturday 17th December. Kick off is at 3pm.