Hawks progress in Trophy

All three goals came within an action-packed ten minutes in the first half. Alex Read put the hosts ahead before Reise Allassani equalised from distance.

Just three minutes later the Hawks re-took the lead when a cross from Alex Read was turned in for an own goal.

Harlow Town had to soak up the pressure in the second half, as an impressive defensive display restricted Dulwich Hamlet to limited chances.

The Hawks started brightly, pressing high up the pitch, high in confidence after the midweek win over Leiston. They had the ball in the net on 12 minutes when Alex Read poked in a rebound from Junior Dadson’s shot, but the flag was offside.

Harlow went ahead through top scorer Alex Read on 27 minutes. Andrea Mayasi’s struck an inswinging free kick from the left, and Read got the slightest of touches on it to direct it into the Dulwich net.

Six minutes later Hamlet’s Reise Allassani restored parity with a long range effort, finishing off his run from midfield with a low shot that crept inside the post.

The respite was short-lived, and with 36 minutes played Harlow re-took the lead. Jimmy Shepherd’s ball into the channel was collected by Alex Read who cut back from the byline. Under pressure from the advancing Junior Dadson, Hamlet’s Quade Taylor diverted the cross into his own net.

The Hawks were restricting the visitors to speculative shots on goal, and when Nathan Green dragged a shot wide from the corner of the area it summed up Hamlet’s first half.

HT: Harlow Town 2-1 Dulwich Hamlet

With the second half underway, Alex Read set-up Nathan Livings on the edge of the area, but the midfielder sent his half-volley over the bar.

Harlow were having to defend more in the second period, and although Dulwich enjoyed plenty of possession they were wasteful in attack as they failed to create clear-cut chances.

A good opportunity fell to Nathan Green, whose shimmy inside the box created space before drilling a powerful shot just over the bar.

Junior Dadson was causing problems with his pace, and he breezed past right-back Quade Taylor before delivering a low cross that was agonisingly just behind Alex Read in the centre.

Dulwich had another couple of pot-shots from Green and Nana Bopakye-Yiadom, but David Hughes in the Harlow net barely had a save to make.

With 15 minutes left to play the Hawks could have made it more comfortable. Reece Dobson set Alex Read behind the defence, but his cross was inches away from Junior Dadson who couldn’t stretch to turn into an open net.

The visitors threw everything at it in the final minutes, but despite them having most of the possession the Hawks defended stoutly and Dulwich were left frustrated.

FT: Harlow Town 2-1 Dulwich Hamlet
ATTENDANCE: 363

The Hawks now progress to the 3rd Qualifying Round of the FA Trophy and await news of their opponents in the draw on Monday.

Next up, Harlow Town face Billericay Town at home on Saturday 18th November. It’s a 3pm kick off.