Hawks cruise into quarter finals

The Hawks started on the front foot and went ahead through James Baker after only ten minutes, before Junior Dadson doubled the lead 9 minutes later.

Tommie Fagg scored a well-taken goal on his first start since returning from injury, before Tobi Ajala forced an own goal to finish the scoring.

Harlow Town started brightly, and were too strong for the Essex Senior League side. The first warning shot came with six minutes gone when Tobi Ajala headed a Junior Dadson cross just wide.

Dadson was a handful on the left wing all game, and his quick feet allowed him to beat Ross Johnson as he whipped a cross in. James Baker’s glancing header took the ball away from the goalkeeper and inside the post for the opening goal.

Dadson could have doubled the lead himself when Alex Read played him behind the defence, but Lee Delf recovered well to get across to block.

The second goal came on 19 minutes when Junior Dadson burst into the box, and angled a shot across the goalkeeper that crept into the bottom corner.

The visitors were reduced to trying their luck from distance, and both Mohamed Kargbo and Vladut Sighiartau failed to trouble David Hughes and put their efforts high and wide of the goal respectively.

Harlow Town almost added a third on the stroke of half-time. Good build up play involving Alex Read, Tobi Ajala and James Bajer resulted in Baker poking goalwards from close range, but in the ensuing scramble Lee Delf cleared off the line.

HT: Harlow Town 2-0 Southend Manor

Tommie Fagg was impressive on his return to the side, and twice went close with 20 yard efforts from directly in front of goal.

His hard work was repaid when get got on the scoresheet with a fine individual goal on 62 minutes. He jinked through the defence to make space for himself inside the box, before finishing well with a low shot into the bottom corner.

The Hawks made it four with 68 minutes played. Tobi Ajala attacked down the right, and his shot beat the goalkeeper but cannoned off the post. The rebound struck the unfortunate back-tracking defender Ross Johnson in the face, who could do nothing as the ball bounced over the line.

Harlow didn’t let up and almost added a fifth with ten minutes left to play. Tommie Fagg’s powerful shot was blocked out of play by defender Tyler Fowles. From the resulting free kick, Jideofo Maduako’s header crashed off the bar.

The ball was cleared to Nigel Neita, who took a touch before rifling inches over where the bar meets the upright.

The Hawks saw out the rest of the game, and the comfortable win will instil confidence in a side who have a bottom-of-the-table clash against Worthing coming up next.

FT: Harlow Town 4-0 Southend Manor
ATTENDANCE: 70

The Hawks host Worthing in the league on Saturday 2nd December. Kick off is at 3pm.