A new-look Harlow Town found life back in the Eastern Region Women's Football League tough on opening weekend as they faced defeat at home to Bedford.

The visitors took the lead half-way through the first half as the ball was poked beyond Darcie Salmons before they followed that up with a second just 5 minutes later as a headed effort on goal went in at the near post.

Harlow had made a quick start to the game, but failed to beat the Bedford keeper with several efforts on goal. Lily Bruno fired a shot over the bar before Charis Howell created some space on the edge of the box, but her effort was well held by the keeper. Despite a fast start, the Blues came into the game and threatened the Hawks goal before they broken the deadlock; a effort was straight at Salmons before a shot from just inside the box was fired over.

The Hawks' new signing Sandeep Tak had a couple of efforts on goal as Harlow pushed for a goal but her efforts were either held by the keeper or fired over while a free-kick from Tayla Handscomb bounces all the way through to the Bedford keeper.

The second half was dominated by the Hawks, but Bedford still offered a threat throughout the half. Sabrina Brightly looked to pull one back in the opening minutes of the second period, but the forward took the ball too far, making it comfortable for the keeper. The visitors responded with a couple of chances themselves, but Harlow dealt with the danger well.

Bedford almost had a third, but substitute keeper Rosie Lewis was there to hold onto the effort. Despite the odd occasion for the Blues, Harlow continued to dominate, but they couldn't find the goal they sought. Brightly fed the ball to Tak, but the forwards effort was fired over before Bruno looked to be through on goal, but the Bedford defence had just taken it away from her. Handscomb saw a free-kick fly over the bar before Salmons had the Hawks best chance of the game as the ball fell to her in the box, but she leaned back, sending the effort over.

Both sides had chances in the closing stages, but the score remained the same. Howell saw a flicked header go inches wide of the far post and Tak fired a shot over the bar while Bedford looked to pounce on a goalkeeping error, but the ball run out of play before the visitors looked to round off the victory, but the shot was fired over.