Hawks scrape past Ware in Robert Dyas League Cup

Manager Danny Chapman made four changes from the team that was held 0-0 by AFC Sudbury on Saturday, Goalkeeper Dean Driscoll, Right back Danny Norton and midfielder Claudio Lorenzani all started along with David Kendall who is returning after a hamstring injury. Fabion Simms, Ben Glasgow, Ed Thompson and captain James Smith dropped to the bench.

Dean Driscoll was called into action after 8 minutes when he pushed a Finbarr Robins shot round the post. then four minutes later David Cowley had a shot cleared off the line. With both teams looking for a breakthrough the impressive Kieran Bishop broke down the right for Ware and hit a cross come shot wide of the back post.
But on 22 minutes some great footwork from David Cowley gave himself space to curl a shot passed Rhys Madden and into the net via the far post to give Harlow the lead.

Captain for the evening Layne Eadie nearly doubled the lead on 28 minutes when put in by a great through ball from Josh Urquhart only to see his first efford well saved by Madden but from the keepers save Eadie had another attempt cleared off the line. With the Hawks now on top striker Alex Read made it 2-0 with a tap in from 6 yards after Cowley's shot was pushed across the face of the goal by Madden.

Ware were the better side in the 2nd half with the lion share of possession and they pulled a goal back on 49 minutes through Bishop, a great side foot finish which bent round Dean Driscoll and into the net to give ware a lifeline.
Chances were then few and far between but Ware were looking for an equaliser and pushed Ex Hawk Murat Karagul up front alongside Bishop, and these two gave the back line a tough last 15 minutes, and on 80 minutes substitute James Smith under hit a back pass to Driscoll and Bishop was onto it like a flash taking it past Driscoll but Man of the Match Michael Toner did enough to force the striker to shoot wide.

On 85 minutes Ware thought they had equalised when Bishop turned in a Charlie Ledula cross from the left only to see the referees assistant on the far side raise his flag for offside.
The last chance of an equaliser fell to Robins in the 88th minute when good work by substitute Albert Adu down the left managed to pass a ball across the face of goal towards Robins, but Toner was quick to react to deflect the ball giving Robbins only a half chance which was gathered by Driscoll. In injury time James Smith fired in a 25 yard free-kick only to see madden save with both feet.

With the victory it now sets up an away trip to Hampton and Richmond in the 2nd round on a date to be announced.