Hawks reach Trophy First Round

Layne Eadie converted a free kick just before half-time, before the hosts were reduced to ten men a minute later.

Leon Antoine doubled the lead after the break, but Ed Harris scrambled in a close-range goal for Havant & Waterlooville to put pressure on Harlow.

Alex Read made sure of the result when he rounded off a counter-attacking move in injury time, but it was David Hughes who was the star of the show in the Harlow goal to send the Hawks through to the First Round Proper for the first time since 2010.

A tough tie was on the cards for the visitors, having been comprehensively beaten in the corresponding league fixture earlier on in the season.

The hosts started strongly as expected, but it was Harlow who took the lead on 41 minutes. Layne Eadie took a free kick from close to the corner flag, and when Havant & Waterlooville stopper Ryan Young came off his line to clear the cross, he got in a mix-up with Rory Williams and Alfie Rutherford. The ball curled over the goalkeeper’s head and straight into the net for an unusual goal.

The task was made harder for Havant & Waterlooville shortly after when their main goal threat, top scorer Jason Prior, was shown a second yellow card for a late challenge on Stanley Muguo, only minutes after receiving his first caution. The hosts faced the prospect of playing the whole second half a man down.

HT: Havant & Waterlooville 0-1 Harlow Town

Leon Antoine doubled the lead on 54 minutes just a couple of minutes after coming on as a substitute. He won a long ball in air, flicking it on, and then received a return pass from Mario Noto within the area. Antoine smashed the ball past the onrushing goalkeeper and into the top corner for a two goal advantage.

The hosts pegged a goal back on the hour mark. Ed Harris headed a corner down towards goal, and Alfie Rutherford reacted quickly to turn and hit home from close range.

Havant & Waterlooville piled on the pressure searching for an equaliser, defying their disadvantage in the number of players on the field. Only a string of saves from Harlow goalkeeper David Hughes kept the hosts at bay as Harlow looked as though they could hold on for a surprise win.

With time running out Havant & Waterlooville committed numbers forward, and Harlow struck the killer blow on the counter-attack. Bamba Ngamb and Alex Read streaked up the pitch, and when Ngamb squared the ball across the area, Read had the goal at his mercy to tap in and secure the hard-fought victory.

FT: Havant & Waterlooville 1-3 Harlow Town
ATTENDANCE: 197

The Hawks progress to the First Round Proper for the first time since the 2010-11 season, earning almost £10,000 in prize money so far from this season’s competition, with the prospect of a large National League side in the next round that will be drawn on Monday 28th November.

Next up, the Hawks host Hendon at home in a league game on Tuesday 29th November. Kick off is at 7:45pm.