Harrow come from behind to win

By Ian Barham

Harlow Town slumped to defeat on the opening day of the season after conceding a goal six minutes from time.

The Hawks had started brightly, and striker Alex Read didn’t take long to get off the mark when he nodded home with just over half an hour played.

The hosts hit straight back with a header of their own, and when it looked as though the sides would be heading for a deserved draw, Harrow took the lead late in the game to take all three points.

Harlow Town dominated the opening half an hour, and the front three of Junior Dadson, Reece Dobson and Alex Read looked a particularly potent force early on.

Reece Dobson had a gilt-edged chance to score with just four minutes on the clock. Jared Small’s throw was nodded on at the near post, and when just three yards out and with the open goal gaping, the ball tangled in Dobson’s legs and was eventually cleared from danger.

Junior Dadson went close when he latched onto a forward ball and lashed it goalwards with a first time shot. It sailed wide without troubling the goalkeeper.

The deadlock was broken on 33 minutes. Reece Dobson flicked on a corner at the near post, and Alex Read was on hand to head through a crowd of bodies and get the Hawks off the mark.

The lead didn’t last for long however. Just two minutes later the hosts had a corner of their own, and Ant O’Connor leapt high in the box to put a header in to the corner with their first real chance of the game.

The hosts continued to improve, and could have taken the lead when Michael Bryan twisted and turned inside the box to create space. He lashed a low cross across the face of goal, but Charles Banya couldn’t connect to turn it in.

HT: Harrow Borough 1-1 Harlow Town

Hawks stopper David Hughes was replaced at half-time, having sustained a shoulder injury during the Harrow equaliser, so Patrick Lee took to the field and was called into action straight away. Harrow striker Will Turl was through on goal, but Lee got both hands behind the powerful shot to turn it away.

Mid-way through the half Alex Read nearly put the Hawks ahead again. He ran through onto a long ball and blasted it goalwards after one bounce. Melvin Minter dived acrobatically to get the tips of his fingers to the ball and send it around the post.

As the game drew to a close Stanley Muguo had a sight of goal, but with the ball on the bounce he couldn’t control the effort and it flew wide of goal.

The hosts had the final say on 84 minutes, when Kurtis Cummerbatch beat the Hawks defence to a loose ball and lobbed a pass over the top. Harrow goalscorer Ant O’Connor beat Patrick Lee with a first-time shot to double his tally for the game and secure all three points.

Harlow Town will be disappointed that for consecutive seasons they have come away from Harrow with nothing after having been on top in the opening period and arguably deserving at least a point.

FT: Harrow Borough 2-1 Harlow Town
ATTENDANCE: 206

The Hawks now host Dulwich Hamlet in their first home game of the season on Tuesday 15th August. Kick off is at 7:45pm.