Late goal shares points

The visitors had gone ahead early with a goal in the second minute, before Harlow Town pulled level just before the break.

The Hawks were much improved in the second half, and went ahead when Craig Pope bundled a goal in from close range.

The visitors weren’t finished though, as Pierre Hazet converted a corner in the 85th minute to earn his side a share of the spoils.

It was the worst possible start for the Hawks, as the visitors took a very early lead. A quick free kick caught the home defence napping, and a good cross was met by Tyrell Richardson Brown at the back post.

Burgess Hill could have had a second on ten minutes. David Hughes came racing off his line to clear a through ball, and Jack Brivio collected the ball before hitting straight back at the towards the Harlow goal. Charlie Dickens had tracked back to cover the goal, and the ball struck his arm as he intercepted the ball inside his own area.

To the disappointment of the Burgess Hill team and the amazement of everyone in the stadium, the referee waved away calls for a penalty, and the Hawks breathed a collective sigh of relief.

The visitors were lively on the wings, and they did have the ball in the net again a couple of minutes later when Lucas Rodrigues chipped the ball over Hughes, but the flag was up for offside.

The Hawks were struggling to get into the game, and Craig Pope’s diving header on the half hour mark was the closest they had come to scoring, however it was easily collected.

Harlow Town improved as the game wore on, and when Fabion Simms flicked on Ibrahima Sonko’s long throw, the ball went tantalisingly along the goal line with no-one on hand to tap in.

With two minutes of the half left however, Harlow Town equalised. In a repeat of the previous effort, Ibrahima Sonko’s long throw was headed on by Fabion Simms. Jared Small collected the ball 12 yards out and drilled the ball low into the net to draw level.

The Hawks then had their own shout for a penalty in first half injury time, when Burgess Hill defender Will Miles looked to have handled a shot at goal, but once again the referee waved away the claim for handball.

HT: Harlow Town 1-1 Burgess Hill Town

The hosts rang the changes at half time, and we’re a much improved side in the second period. The substitutes combined almost immediately as Junior Dadson cut back from the byline, and Mario Noto saw his goal bound shot blocked by Leon Redwood just five yards out.

Burgess Hill goal scorer Richardson Brown was put through on goal by Brivio, but the shot was straight at David Hughes who parried out of danger. Alex Read then played Junior Dadson through for the Hawks, but he scuffed the shot wide.

The Hawks were piling on the pressure, and the breakthrough came on 76 minutes. A corner fell inside the Burgess Hill box, and after some goalmouth pinball Craig Pope bundled the ball over the line from close range, although in truth the Hawks skipper didn’t know too much about it.

As it looked like the hosts would steal all three points, Burgess Hill found another goal five minutes from time. Lee Harding floated in a corner and Pierre Hazet rose above the Hawks defence to nod home a free header, and share the points.

FT: Harlow Town 2-2 Burgess Hill Town
ATTENDANCE: 240

The result leaves Harlow Town on 64 points, four games outside the playoff positions, with only four games left to play.

Next up, the Hawks are at home to relegated Grays Athletic on Saturday 8th April. It’s a 3:00pm kick off.