Hawks bow out of cup

Harlow Town went ahead against the run of play with a well worked goal finished off by Nigel Neita, but the visitors hit back through a close range Reece Harris finish.

East Thurrock went ahead after the re-start and the visitors proved too much for the depleted Hawks who couldn’t get back into the match.

The game started at a blistering pace with East Thurrock’s Sam Higgins having three great chances within the first ten minutes. Higgins put his first shot just over the bar as a warning to the Harlow Town defence with less than two minutes played, and then his free header was put straight at McNamara who saved well.

Higgins then cut inside to make himself space, but dragged his effort just wide of the post.

With the initial flurry over, the Hawks settled into the game. Junior Dadson latched onto a long ball forward and touched past the East Thurrock ‘keeper, but left-back Simon Peddie recovered well to chase back and clear the ball two yards from the goal line.

Harlow Town took the lead against the run of play with half an hour on the clock. Junior Dadson worked well to reach the byline, and his cut back to opposite winger Nigel Neita was on a plate to be lashed home from 5 yards out.

The visitors almost replied immediately at the other end, but Higgins dragged his effort wide. Higgins went close again when he headed onto the bar and over.

The equaliser came on 38 minutes. A good ball in from the left found Reece Harris unmarked at the back post who turned it in to draw level.

On the stroke of half time, the Hawks were awarded a free kick from a tight angle on the edge of the area. Xavier Vidal hit it goalwards, but Lucas Lidakevicius got two hands behind it to push the ball away.

HT: Harlow Town 1-1 East Thurrock United

Neither side were able to keep up the tempo of the first half after the break, and chances were fewer and further between.

The first real chance of the half went the way of the visitors, who took the lead for the first time in the game. A cut back from the byline found Lewis Smith in space who bundled the ball into the net.

East Thurrock were looking the more comfortable, but they weren’t able to shake off a dogged Harlow Town.

Reece Dobson tried a left-footed curling shot from 25 yards, but it went just wide of the post.

The Hawk’s best chance of an equaliser came with 20 minutes left to play. Ibrahima Sonko headed down a corner to Alex Read 5 yards from goal. The striker turned and swung a leg at the ball, but he wasn’t able to make contact and the difficult chance went begging.

Xavier Vidal put a free kick just past the post for the Hawks, before East Thurrock’s Lewis Smith dragged a final effort across goal as the visitors saw out the remainder of the game.

FT: Harlow Town 1-2 East Thurrock United
ATTENDANCE: 329

Attention now turns back to the league as the Hawks travel to Leatherhead on Saturday 7th October. Kick off is at 7:45pm.