Hawks breeze past Aylesbury

The Hawks were in control from the off and Jared Small put the hosts ahead with a close range finish before Anthony Ball drew level with a long range finish. Reece Dobson restored the Harlow lead from 10 yards out before Alex Read made it three.

Junior Dadson hit the fourth soon after the restart, with the Hawks in cruise control for the rest of the game despite a last minute consolation for the visitors.

The hosts laid down a market with just a couple of minutes player when Junior Dadson and Jared Small combined well to tee up Alex Read, who shot straight at the keeper.

The opening goal came in the sixth minute when Alex Read raced onto a long ball into the left channel. A cross with the outside of the right boot found Jared Small in the middle who only had to tap in.

The lead didn’t last for long as Aylesbury drew level on 14 minutes. A corner was passed to Anthony Ball outside the area, and with the Hawks defence slow to react, the midfielder hit low and through a number of bodies to beat Ben McNamara at the near post.

Harlow didn’t allow the set-back to affect their morale and continued to attack down the wings where the visitors were unable to cope with the pace.

When Jared Small reached the byline he cut back for Alex Read to shoot goalwards, but the striker was thwarted by a good save from Ashley Jenkins. The rebound fell to Reece Dobson though, who finished off the move to restore the lead.

The Hawks were imperious going forward, and a great cross from Alex Read found Jared Small at the far post. He hit it first time on the volley, but Jenkins pulled off a great close-range save to push the ball away.

With half-time approaching the Hawks seemed in control of the tie, and on 38 minutes Alex Read got his richly deserved goal. A wonderful passing move started by Jey Siva and featuring all the attacking Harlow players moved the ball from the left to the right flank. Jared Small crossed for Alex Read to poke home to complete his first half performance.

The Hawks weren’t done, and Jared Small nearly hit a fourth before the half-time whistle. He cut in from the right and drilled in an effort that was heading inside the post, but another good save from Jenkins prevented further damage.

HT: Harlow Town 3-1 Aylesbury

The Hawks started the second half in the same dominant fashion and soon added a fourth. Junior Dadson ran on to a long clearance and with his pace taking himself clear of the defence and one-on-one with the goalkeeper, he slotted it past and into the net.

With the game seemingly wrapped up, the Hawks took their feet of the pedal a little, and were almost punished. Harry Scott raced clear of the Harlow defence, but with only the goalkeeper to beat Ben McNamara responded well with a good save.

Reece Dobson went so close to a second when he clattered a free kick off the crossbar, only to see it bounce down and onto the goal-line before being cleared away.

Charlie Dickens, returning to the side since being recalled from his loan spell, also had an opportunity to add further damage, but his header went just over the bar.

In the third minute of stoppage time a swift counter-attack saw goalscorer Anthony Ball play Harry Scott through on goal. He put the ball through the legs of McNamara to score, but it was only a consolation for Aylesbury who had been unable to contain the Hawks.

FT: Harlow Town 4-2 Aylesbury
ATTENDANCE: 121

Harlow progress to the Second Round Qualifying where they will host Dulwich Hamlet on November 11th.

Next up, the Hawks travel to Brightlingsea Regent as focus switches back to the league. Kick off is at 3pm on Saturday 4th November.