Hawks back to winning ways

The visitors controlled the first half, with a Louis Yuill thunderbolt opening the scoring after 20 minutes.

Emile Acquah doubled the lead nine minutes later to put the Hawks in control, and despite going into the break two goals to the good, it could have been four or five.

The hosts gave a better account of themselves in the second period, but disciplined defending from Harlow Town proved vital to earning a win that moved them to one point from safety.

Harlow Town started the game with attacking intent, and that came to fruition mid-way through the half. A cross was cleared as far as Louis Yuill on the edge of the area, and when he arrowed a shot back at goal, Wingate & Finchley stopper Shane Gore had no chance of keeping it out.

The Hawks were enjoying plenty of possession, and on 29 minutes a well-worked goal from the front three doubled the lead. Matt Foy headed a ball down to Tom Hitchcock, who twisted and turned as he made his way through the defence. He laid off to Emile Acquah, with plenty of work still to do, but he made easy work of it, chipping the ball over the onrushing goalkeeper.

Matt Foy nearly added his name to the scoresheet a minute later, but his effort from the edge of the area went just wide of the upright.

The hosts didn’t muster their first real threat on goal until the 35th minute when Reece Michell tried his luck from the edge of the area, but he put it wide.

Mitchell had another good opportunity after a one-two with Carl Stewart put him through on goal. He shot straight at Josh Bexon though, who saved with ease.

Matt Foy intercepted a loose ball in a dangerous position, before beating one defender and releasing a pass to Tom Hitchcock. He quickly found himself surrounded by defenders and was unable to get the shot away. He laid back to goal scorer Louis Yuill, but his shot went wide of the mark as a good chance went begging.

Carl Stewart had one final chance to reduce the deficit seconds before half time, but he blazed the ball over the crossbar, and Harlow Town went into the break with a commanding lead.

HALF-TIME: Wingate & Finchley 0-2 Harlow Town

Wingate & Finchley were a stronger proposition after the break, and immediately went on the offensive. Rob Laney played Lewis Putman through on goal, but Josh Bexon made a good save to deny the shot.

Harlow Town were awarded a free kick 25 yards out, and Tom Hitchcock fancied his chances. His right-footed shot had the power, but it crept past the post.

Although the hosts were enjoying more possession during the second half, they were still unable to threaten the Harlow goal. Solid defending was the order of the day from the Hawks’ back line, and Wingate & Finchley found themselves frustrated and resorted to shots from distance.

Loic Hernandez sent an effort flying over the bar from a long way out, before Lewis Putman also sent a shot skyward after being put through by Laney.

As Wingate and Finchley pressed for a goal to get them back into the game, space opened up behind them. Harlow defender Paul Rodgers was able to steal the ball in his own half, charging forward to create an opportunity to shoot. Finding himself in the unfamiliar position of bearing down on goal, he sent the shot just wide of the post.

The final minutes were ticking away, and one final chance went begging for the hosts when a cross was headed out to Rob Laney. He lashed a volley towards goal that had plenty of power but was lacking in accuracy, flying over the bar like so many other attempts at goal before it.

Harlow Town saw out the remainder of the game and were well worthy of the victory over a lacklustre Wingate & Finchley side who were unusually out of sorts.

FULL-TIME: Wingate & Finchley 0-2 Harlow Town

Harlow Town are now back at home for their final game before Christmas, with Leatherhead the visitors on Saturday 14th December.