Hawks hit for six

A poor display from Harlow Town allowed ruthless Kingstonian to inflict the Hawks’ biggest league defeat since 2013.

The hosts were four up at half time, and had it not been for some impressive saves from Hawks stopper Ben McNamara the tally could have been more.

Harlow did create chances of their own, but found Rob Tolfrey in the Kingstonian net in inspirational form to keep a clean sheet.

Danny Chapman rang the changes at half-time, but the Hawks failed to get out of first gear and two more goals from Kingstonian completed the rout.

Syrus Gordon had the first sight of goal when his low shot was heading in, but it deflected off Cladiu Vilclu and away from danger.

The hosts upped the tempo and soon took a hold of the game. Kane Haysman got through on goal, but Ben McNamara reacted quickly to get off his line and dive at the winger’s feet to smother the ball.

Haysman had a hand in the first goal on 21 minutes, when his shot deflected kindly into the path of Tom Collins. The striker made the most of it, drilling the ball home to open the scoring.

Another warning shot came four minutes later when Alex Fiddes put a deep cross back into the area and found Sam Page in acres of space only six yards out. The Kingstonian captain hit the ball on the volley, but Ben McNamara parried the ball to keep it out.

Alex Read went close for Harlow when he latched onto a long ball forward and hit it after one bounce, but the effort from a tight angle grazed the corner of the goal.

Jared Small then delivered an inch perfect cross for Tommie Fagg in the middle, and his header was heading towards the top corner. Tolfrey dived acrobatically across his goal to preserve his side’s lead with a great fingertip save.

A second goal came on 32 minutes. Ibrahima Sonko’s backpass sold McNamara short and Tom Derry was onto it quickly. Although the Harlow keeper did well to stop the initial effort with his legs, it fell nicely for Derry who made sure at the second time of asking into the open net.

The Hawks were still creating chances, and when Junior Dadson’s cross from the left found Jared Small in the penalty area it was a great chance to pull a goal back. Tolfrey pulled out another good save from 8 yards out to tip the shot over the bar.

Two quick goals before the break killed off the game. Toby Little scored the third with a fantastic left-footed free kick from 25 yards that curled just inside the post, leaving McNamara with no chance.

The fourth came on the stroke of half-time as a Kingstonian counter-attack saw several attackers arrive in the box. Poor defending from Harlow allowed several chances at goal without being effectively cleared, before Lewis Taylor buried his shot.

HT: Kingstonian 4-0 Harlow Town

Danny Chapman made three substitutions at half time, but they had little impact as the hosts continued from where they left off. Ben McNamara was needed to keep the score down saving from a Vilclu header and a low effort from Fiddes.

Kingstonian’s fifth came soon after the hour mark when the ball bounced around the Harlow area before reaching Collins at the back post who headed home his second.

McNamara was working overtime, again denying Vilcu before a good save from a Tom Derry volley.

The Hawks were trying to get something from the game, but they failed to test Tolfrey for the entirety of the second half. Reece Dobson dragged an effort well wide of the goal, and when Junior Dadson ran onto Dobson’s flick on his first-time shot flew just over the bar.

The final nail in the coffin came with 15 minutes to play. Sam Page swung at the ball in the area, but his mis-hit found its way through to Haysman who lashed in.

Tommie Fagg had a final chance for a consolation goal when his 20 yard effort grazed the bar in the final seconds, leaving the Hawks to reflect on a sobering scoreline.

FT: Kingstonian 6-0 Harlow Town
ATTENDANCE: 223

The result leaves the Hawks in 20th place in the league table with 7 points from the opening eight games.

Next up, Harlow Town host Needham Market on Tuesday 26th September, with kick off at 7:45pm.