The Hawks defeated the away side on 2 occasions last season, in both the league and League Challenge Cup, but couldn’t defeat them in the league at the Pardus Wealth Stadium. However, things were different yesterday afternoon.

It was very nearly an early home lead after Harlow hit the bar from a corner, with the ball coming off of a Basildon Town player.

Continuing to put pressure on Basildon, Denzel Effah picked out Jack Haley emphatically with a cross towards the back-post. Haley met it with his head and struck the post; Basildon Town almost conceding again in the opening 10 minutes.

Basildon Town also came very close to taking the lead, after Luke Winter saw his shot saved terrifically by James Pellin after the ball was played across goal to him.

After a largely quiet spell, Basildon Town were awarded an indirect free-kick towards the end of the first-half. The Harlow players gathered on the line, and with Luke Winter taking a shot on, James Pellin came out on top, closing him down instantly and sending the shot over the bar.

A big chance for Cav Clarke went amiss right at the end of the first half after Ruben Santos picked him out at the back post from a corner. The striker could not direct his effort on target.

It had been a fairly end-to-end first-half with both sides having chances to take the lead, but nothing could separate them yet going into the second half.

After a very quiet opening to the second-half, the deadlock was finally broken. Taylor Ansell-Quinton skipped past two defenders and unleashed a marvellous finish into the bottom-left corner to give the away side the lead, and giving Harlow a mountain to climb with just 20 minutes of normal time to go.

Harlow kept plugging away, with new signing Fred Agyemang looking to help the cause by having a crack at goal. However, he was unable to hit the target.

Ruben Santos had to score when the ball reached him from 12 yards out, but on the half-volley he hit the bar and Harlow were still a goal down.

Despite this, Harlow simply didn’t give up and continued to dominate possession. Inevitably, the goal finally came after Jack Haley picked up the ball, ran through on goal before seeing his shot saved by Joel Durrant, but only into the path of his own centre-back, whom it bounced off of towards his own goal. Cav Clarke made no mistake of it, sliding in and ensuring that it found the net. With little time to celebrate, they grabbed the ball and continued to push for the win.

Just minutes later, the second goal for Harlow came. Tom Jelliman whipped a free kick out-swinging into the box, and James Folkes headed home, turning the tie on its head.

Harlow chose not to sit back, but instead to keep going for more goals, and Fred Agyemang had yet another opportunity to shoot, but hit his effort over the bar.

A late penalty was awarded to Harlow Town after Jordan Burnett was fouled in the box. Fred Agyemang stepped up but saw his effort denied by Durrant, so the lead was not extended.

Overall, the Harlow side showed great character to come from behind and defeat Basildon Town, bouncing back from last week’s FA Vase defeat at Hadleigh.

Thank you for your continued support, and we hope to see you on Tuesday evening for our Essex Senior Cup game against Hutton.