The Hawks took a single goal lead into the break after Jeremie Sivi’s first goal for the Club, but mistakes in the second half allowed the hosts to capitalise and score three times without reply.

Waltham Abbey are flying high in the league table, and they wasted no time in showing why. Darrelle Russell burst through on goal in the 5th minute, and it was only the quick reflexes from Hawks stopper Josh Bexon that prevented the one-on-one from being converted.

Abbey’s Charlie Crowley was called into action himself shortly after when Jeremie Sivi’s cross was met in the middle by Tayo Oyebola, but the shot was at a good height for the goalkeeper to parry away.

Chances were few and far between as the half progressed, but the best opportunity of the game came with 25 minutes played. Oyebola’s cross into the six-yard box was a dangerous one, and although Billy Jones was stretching towards the ball from only a couple of yards out, he wasn’t able to get enough of a touch on it to direct it home.

The breakthrough came with half an hour played. A cross into the box was headed down to Billy Jones, who laid the ball off to Jeremie Sivi. The winger picked his spot with a low strike to put the Hawks ahead.

HALF-TIME: Waltham Abbey 0-1 Harlow Town

Waltham Abbey came out strongly in the second half, and it almost paid dividends immediately with a strong penalty shout just three minutes after the re-start. A late tackle inside the Harlow box seemed sure to result in a spot-kick, but to the disbelief of both the home and away supporters, the referee waved away the protests as the Hawks were let off.

The hosts were undeterred, and just minutes later produced their best chance of the game. A low cross was whipped into the danger area, with former-Harlow midfielder Charlie Edwards sliding in to meet it. He was unable to direct it goalwards as the effort sailed harmlessly wide.

Abbey were knocking on the door for an equaliser, but again they were wasteful. Rimmell Daniel met a corner at the back post, but he lashed at the ball somewhat and blazed another good chance over.

The warnings had been coming for Harlow, and on 66 minutes the equaliser came. Daniel made up for his miss a few minutes before, and as the Harlow defence fail to clear a low cross from the right, he slid in to tap it home from a couple of yards out.

On 78 minutes the hosts completed the turnaround. A long ball forward was collected by Prince Domafriyie who turned the last defender before slotting beyond Bexon to put his side a goal to the good.

Danny Chapman threw caution to the wind, bringing on forward Jordan Adeyemi for defender Jules Lopez-Cascante as the Hawks looked to avoid ending the year with three consecutive defeats.

The all-or-nothing substitution didn’t pay off, however, as Waltham Abbey made sure of all three points with a minute of normal time remaining. The Hawks were caught on the break, resulting in a foul and a free kick for the hosts. Rob Clark’s free kick took a deflection on its way into the net to guarantee the win.

Harlow Town had a late flurry of chances with Miles Mitchell-Nelson going close from a corner, before Syrus Gordon saw an effort cleared off the line.

It was too little too late, and when the full-time whistle went, the Hawks were looking at 10 games without a win, having dropped to 9th place in the league table.

FULL-TIME: Waltham Abbey 3-1 Harlow Town

Next up, Harlow Town host Staines Town in the first game of the New Year. Kick off is at 3pm on Saturday 4th January.