Read scores on debut to earn hawks a point

On a sunny afternoon in Soham Harlow Town kicked off there season with a hard earned point, with debuts for seven players and only four from last season in the starting eleven it was a new look team. Soham had the best of the early exchanges but it was not until the 13th minute for the first real shot of anger, Buster Harradine, who scored the two goals against the Hawks last season in the same fixture picked the ball up and hit a fierce drive from 20 yards which Daniel Knowles superbly palmed around the post with his right hand. On 19 minutes Shane Stamp used his pace down the left flank and crossed to Leon Antoine who turned and hit a shot from 12 yards, but it was straight at the Soham goalkeeper Daniel Bircham. By this time the Hawks were in the ascendency and Junior Danson cut in from the right wing and shot low but again Bircham was equal to it.
On 22 minutes Harradine again hit a shot from the angle only to see Knowles tip his shot superbly over the bar. 5 minutes later in an end to end half Stamp sent a superb cross acoss the six yard box but neither Read or Antoine could get a toe in to poke the ball home. Read then had a half chance blocked by a disciplined defence. The dangerous Danson picked the ball up in his own half on 34 minutes weaved passed the Soham defenders but could not get any power in his shot which rolled harmlessly passed the post. As the half was drawing to a close Soham had the possession but the Hawks were still carving out opportunities with Fowler and Antoine having shots blocked and saved. But on 44 minutes Soham broke and from a Michael Simpson cross, Luke Stanley slid in to knock the ball passed the helpless Knowles.
Soham started the 2nd half on the front foot and on 49 minutes Christian Wheeler slipped to let in Ben Sawyer but Knowles was quick to react and spread himself well to block his shot. The Hawks then found there deserved equaliser on the hour mark, Fowler wipped in a sublime free kick fro the left and found the outstretched foot of Alex Read who steered the ball pass Bircham. Robbie Martin was then brought on for Shaun Gliddon. Soham responded well and both Simposon and Stanley had shots well saved by Man of the match Knowles. In the last 10 minutes both Read and Antoine had chances to give the Hawks a win but Bircham was equal to Read's shots and Antoine should of done better with only Bircham to beat from 8 yards but steered his shot wide.