After an opening period in which neither team took control, with half an hour played the hosts rushed into a two-goal lead when Jake Baxter notched twice within ten minutes.

Lubomir Guentchev added a third on the stroke of half-time, and although the Hawks improved after the break, they were unable to muster a challenge.

The opening 20 minutes saw the game largely bogged down in midfield, with neither side able to carve out any significant chances at goal. The closest either side came to breaking the deadlock was a scramble inside the Harlow town box, but the visitors eventually cleared the danger.

The hosts took control as the first half wore on, and they went ahead on 32 minutes. A powerful shot from Bryan Taylor swerved in the air in front of Hawks goalkeeper Josh Bexon, and he was only able to parry it. The ball eventually fell to Jake Baxter a couple of yards out, and he took advantage to head his side in to the lead.

Harlow almost hit back immediately. Good work between Terrell Egbri and Yannick Kissi allowed the latter to deliver a dangerous ball into the box, and although Billy Jones managed to get a touch on it in front of goal, it wasn’t enough to divert the ball into the net.

Chertsey doubled the lead with 41 minutes played. Hugo Odogwu-Atkinson was penalised for a foul on the half-way line, and the Hawks defenders switched off. The free kick was played over the heads of the defence, and Baxter raced onto it, slotting underneath Bexon for his second of the game.

Josh Bexon was called into action again on 44 minutes, when Scott Day found himself in plenty of space in the area to receive a cross. His free header was heading for the top corner, but a diving save from Bexon prevented a further goal.

If Harlow were looking to make it to half-time without any further damage, their plans were spoiled with virtually the last kick of the half. A Chertsey attacker wriggled into the area and hit a powerful shot from a tight angle. Bexon parried it, but it fell right to the feet of Lubomir Guentchev, who gratefully rifled it into the roof of the net.

Danny Chapman rang the changes at half-time, with Tayo Oyebola and Jordan Adeyemi replacing Jeremi Sivi and Billy Jones respectively. Although the changes saw the Hawks have more possession, Chertsey goalkeeper Lewis Gallifent still remained largely untested.

The best chance to reduce the deficit came from Jordan Adeyemi when the two substitutes combined, but he headed Oyebola’s cross just over the bar.

The hosts were able to take their foot of the pedal as they saw out the remainder of the game, and the Hawks can have no complaints about the result.

FULL-TIME: Chertsey Town 3-0 Harlow Town

Next up, attention turns to the Tolleshunt D’Arcy Memorial Cup Quarter Final, as Harlow Town host Stanway Rovers. Kick off is at 7:45pm on Tuesday 14th January.