The visitors had taken the lead through Jay May with half an hour played, and looked to have sealed the win until Alex Read slid home a stoppage time equaliser.

Harlow started the strongest and Fabion Simms went close early on. The ball fell to him just six yards from goal, but Margate stopper Lenny Pidgeley got a hand to the ball to push it out of danger.

Jordan Chiedozie tried his luck from distance for Margate’s first sight of goal after 15 minutes, but he dragged the effort wide.

The swirling wind was causing problems for both sides, and Reece Dobson’s free kick almost caught out Pidgeley, but he backtracked and caught the ball as a strong gust threatened to loop it over his head.

The visitors took the lead against the run of play. David Martin's corner held up in the wind, and Jay May out-jumped Ibrahima Sonko, who suffered a recurrence to his knee injury in the process, and the striker nodded home.

The Hawks continued to press, and a counter-attack was set on its way with a great cross-field ball from Alex Read. Junior Dadson collected and crossed, but Reece Dobson put his sliding effort inches wide of the post.

Fabion Simms saw a shot from the edge blocked by Liam Friend before it could test the goalkeeper, and at the other end Matt Bodkin hit a dropping ball on the volley, but it flew over the bar.

HT: Harlow Town 0-1 Margate

The strong winds continued into the second half and both sides struggled to create many chances. Jared Small let fly from just inside the penalty area, but he was leaning back and it went over.

Margate's Matt Bodkin then could have finished the game off when a teasing cross from Chris Sessegnon found Bodkin at the back post. He was in plenty of space, but put his header back across goal and wide of the post.

As the game went into the final ten minutes Harlow were so close to drawing level. Junior Dadson flashed a low centre across the face of goal, but with three Harlow players lining up in the middle none of them were able to get on the end of it.

In the third minute of stoppage time, Harlow were awarded a free kick on the halfway line. Jey Siva pumped the ball forward, and Alex Read latched onto the ball before swivelling and stroking it home into the bottom corner, to the delight of the home fans who had braved the chilly conditions.

With one final attack, Harlow could have stolen all three points. A quick counter-attack released Alex Read on the right hand side. His cross was searching for Junior Dadson on the far side, but the goalkeeper cut it out.

The referee blew the whistle immediately, and the Hawks celebrated another important point that keeps them in touch with the teams above in the league table.

FT: Harlow Town 1-1 Margate
ATTENDANCE: 168

Harlow Town now have 12 points from the opening 14 games, but still find themselves second from bottom in the league table.

Next up, the Hawks travel to Tilbury for an Essex Senior Cup tie. Kick off is at 7:45pm on Tuesday 24th October.