Hawks secure first win

Alex Read converted a 65th minute penalty to the put the Hawks ahead before Reece Dobson’s powerful shot doubled the lead and secured the first points of the league campaign.

Lowestoft started the game brightly, and with only a couple of minutes played Adam Smith’s close range shot was deflected over.

Jacek Zielonka then grazed the bar with a free kick from outside the box, before heading a second effort just wide.

Harlow Town’s first real sight of goal came from debutant Christian Scales, who signed on loan from Leyton Orient. The defender put a free kick wide, but then saw his game cut short through injury just minutes later.

Fabion Simms connected with a Harlow corner with half an hour played, but Harry Barker cleared on the goal-line to keep the game goalless.

With five minutes of the half remaining Reece Dobson had a good opportunity to put his side ahead, but his scuffed shot didn’t have the power to beat Dudzinski in the Lowestoft net.

The goalkeeper was called into action again a minute later when Fabion Simms put Junior Dadson through on goal, but the shot was straight at him and he saved easily.

Both teams had enjoyed spells of possession and created good chances, but a combination of wasteful finishing and good defending kept the clean sheets intact going into half time.

HT: Harlow Town 0-0 Lowestoft Town

Reece Dobson came out firing for the Hawks in the second half and a powerful shot went just over the bar a minute after the restart.

At the other end Jake Reed turned in the penalty area created space for a shot, but McNamara saved well to deny the striker.

Midway through the second half the visitors then had a penalty shout turned down as Callum White was bundled over in the box, but the referee waved play on to the fury of the Lowestoft players.

Nigel Nieta looked certain to put Harlow ahead when the ball was played across the face of the goal, but Dudzinski pulled off a great save.

The breakthrough came on 65 minutes when Travis Cole fouled in the box and Alex Read duly converted from the penalty spot.

The visitors were against the ropes four minutes later when Reece Dobson doubled the lead. His rasping shot was too much for the Lowestoft keeper who couldn’t keep it out.

Dobson was looking for another when he was through on goal, but Dudzinski once again saved well. The Lowestoft stopper then pushed Alex Read’s shot around the post to keep up hopes of a comeback.

The visitors had a chance for a consolation goal when Jake Reed put a free header over the bar late on, but the Hawks saw out the game for a vital win that puts their first points on the board.

FT: Harlow Town 2-0 Lowestoft Town
ATTENDANCE: 212