Hawks Shock Shrimpers in Senior Cup

out of the BBC Essex-supported competition for the second successive season.

The Hawks arrived at Roots Hall full of confidence having won their previous five matches and sitting atop the Ryman League North Division table, and they took the lead through the prolific Alex Read. Goals from Jack Payne and Shaq Coulthirst put Southend in front, but James Smith, Read again and David Cowley netted in the last 20 minutes to shock their hosts.

The Shrimpers named a side containing five players with first team experience, as well as England Under 19s international goalkeeper Ted Smith, and they threatened to take the lead when Jack Bridge’s shot was deflected wide inside the first 60 seconds.

Despite that start, Harlow began to exert more pressure themselves as the game progressed, and Fabion Simms should have scored on 10 minutes as Smith’s corner was nodded into his path. Simms hooked the ball over and, shortly afterwards, Jared Small mis-kicked when well placed to convert Shane Stamp’s cut-back.

The visitors did take the lead on 19 minutes. Conor Clifford brought down Shane Stamp on the Harlow left then Cowley’s whipped free kick from 25 yards may have nestled inside the far post of its own accord, but Read made sure that it found the bottom right-hand corner with a deft header.

Harlow’s advantage lasted less than two minutes as Southend’s leading First Team goalscorer, Payne, restored parity in spectacular fashion. Collecting Coulthirst’s simple pass, the diminutive playmaker took advantage of a lack of pressure on the ball to slam it in via the underside of the crossbar from the edge of the penalty area.

That should have been the signal for Southend to press on, and they would eventually edge ahead just before half time, but not before Smith had been called upon to block Cowley’s angled finish with his legs and Stamp had steered a shot wide from six yards out with the goal gaping. That allowed Coulthirst to make it 2-1 at the other end, firing home clinically from Payne’s pass.

Either side of the interval, Southend could have moved decisively in front. In the final minute of the first period Clifford’s strike was beaten out by Ed Thompson and Payne’s follow-up was deflected wide, whilst early in the second half Jack Bridge saw his close-range attempt charged down and Isaac Layne watched as Thompson turned his snapshot away from goal.

Harlow have only lost once this season, though, and, after Smith had saved Cowley’s thunderous 25-yard effort and Read had seen a header diverted onto the top of the crossbar, they levelled thanks to James Smith’s outstanding finish. The former Leyton Orient midfielder swivelled to connect with Junior Appiah’s cross on the volley and send the ball into the top right-hand corner on 72 minutes.

Three minutes later the Hawks led for the second time courtesy of the 24th goal of another remarkable season for Read. Again Cowley was the provider as his curling free kick was deflected into the front man’s path and he was slightly fortunate that his mis-kicked finish looped over Smith to make it 3-2.

Harlow almost scored for the third time in five minutes when Appiah’s header was cleared off the line by Cian Bolger, but they did complete the scoring six minutes from time when a fine move down the left flank ended with former Southend youngster Cowley converting gleefully from close range. It was a success that will have tasted even sweeter than last year’s 3-2 home win for the Hawks, and one that will leave them fearing no-one in the Fourth Round draw.

Southend United: Ted Smith, Jordan Williams, Daniel Matsuzaka, Cian Bolger, Kane Farrell, Conor Clifford, Jack Payne, Jack Bridge, Isaac Layne, Shaq Coulthirst (Ross Johnson, 62), Jason Williams (Ellis Brown, 73). Unused Substitutes: Josh Bexon, Abdul Salami, Nico Cotton.

Harlow Town: Edward Thompson, Robbie Martin (Ben Glasgow, 73), Layne Eadie, Joshua Urquhart, Michael Toner, Fabion Simms, Jared Small, David Cowley, Alex Read (Billy Jones, 86), James Smith, Shane Stamp (Junior Appiah, 58). Unused Substitutes: Luke Cuthbert, Dean Driscoll.

Bookings: None.

Referee: Barry Holderness (Wickford).

Assistant Referees: Damian Buhagiar (Rayleigh) and Rhys Battye (Grays).

Thanks to The Essex FA for use of the match report they provided on their website.