Hawks hit for four

The Hawks started the game well, but the hosts went ahead through Elliot Buchanan after a defensive mistake. The lead didn’t last long when Ben Martin put into his own net as Harlow forced a deserved equaliser just five minutes later.

Staines were the better team in the second period and made their pressure count with two goals in five minutes soon after the re-start. The final blow came with 20 minutes left to play when Wadah Ahmidi inflicted a fourth goal for another heavy away defeat.

The Hawks had a great opening chance within the first minute when Junior Dadson played Alex Read inside the area, but Ben Martin blocked the shout out of danger.

The hosts were active on the wings, and both Max Worstfold and Lewis Driver had efforts at goal, but they put them over and straight at Harlow stopper David Hughes respectively.

Syrus Gordon collected a punch clear from Gabe Rosario, but with the goalkeeper off the line his volley was headed clear by a back-tracking defender.

The visitors took the lead against the run of play. A header in defence from Ibrahima Sonko fell to Elliot Buchanan, and he put the shot across goal and into the bottom corner for the opening goal.

The hosts weren’t ahead for long. A great cross-field ball from Tommie Fagg found Toby Ajala on the right hand side. Alex Read couldn’t connect in the middle, but the ball cannoned off Ben Martin and into his own net.

The Hawks were in the ascendancy, and when Junior Dadson’s header deflected off Tyrell Miller-Rodney it was heading for the bottom corner, but Rosario showed agility to get down and save well.

HT: Staines Town 1-1 Harlow Town

If the Hawks opening first half had filled them with confidence, it didn’t take long for it to be knocked out of them again.

Staines Town came out after the break looking energised, and within seven minutes of the re-start they went ahead again. Mo Bettamer delivered a tempting cross, and Lewis Driver’s inch-perfect header nestled in the bottom corner to beat David Hughes.

Five minutes later the lead was doubled. Max Worsfield broke quickly down the left, and his pacy cross was turned in by Bettamer sliding in at the back post.

It went from bad to worse for the Hawks as Staines added a fourth. Wadah Ahmidi broke from midfield and rode a soft challenge before lashing home and into the net.

The hosts were well on top and hunting for more goals, and they should have had one. Substitute Jonathan Hippolyte reached the byline and cut back for Buchanan, but somehow he managed to scoop the ball over the crossbar from six yards out.

Chances for Harlow Town were few and far between in the second half, and the closest Rosario had to making a save was when Toby Ajala’s left-footed free kick curled a little too much and drifted harmlessly past the post.

The Hawks found themselves on the end of another heavy defeat away from home, with the positivity from the good win at home to Folkestone three days prior neutralised in sharp fashion.

FT: Staines Town 4-1 Harlow Town
ATTENDANCE: 169

The Hawks remain third from bottom in the league table with 21 points from 22 games.

For the final game before Christmas, Harlow travel to Lowestoft on Saturday 23rd December. Kick off is at 3pm.