On Saturday afternoon, the Hawks made the short travel to Colney Heath’s Recreation Ground for our first league meeting this season. We did face the side in the Gladwish Challenge Trophy earlier this season but after drawing 0-0 in ninety minutes, we were defeated on penalties on that afternoon.

In total honesty, it wasn’t the prettiest of games on Saturday. In fact, very little actually happened until the late stages of the game, with neither side really getting going, but Colney Heath looked the better of the teams for the majority of the game.

The home side created a very good chance early on in the game as Harrison Burke whipped a cross into the box from the left-hand side. Striker Sachon Edwards headed it goalwards, which was blocked by Fabion Simms but fell excellently for the Heath striker again, but he shanked it wide with the entire goal to aim at.

Later in the half, Harlow registered their first proper chance as a good move including a couple of nice turns from Louis Stead led to Ishaq Ameen shooting from 6 yards out, but the striker was denied by the post. Keeper McKenzie-Lyle was rooted to the spot.

Not a whole lot occurred for a good half an hour after this in the game until Teddy Jones brought down Jed Essayah in the penalty area, giving away a penalty in the 61st minute. Will Andiyapan stepped up and smashed it into the right side of the goal and despite Krusinski’s anticipation of which way Andiyapan would go, he couldn’t reach it and the home side took the lead just on the hour mark.

At this stage, Colney Heath started to dominate the game and quickly grabbed another goal through Sam Essayah after Andiyapan whipped in a free-kick and Essayah headed it home with panache.

Shortly after this, Danny Chapman decided to make four substitutions in one go, bringing on Jack Cousins, Mitch Hahn, Syrus Gordon and Alex Penn. However, just two minutes after being subbed on, Syrus Gordon was sent off after speaking to the referee.

However, despite the fact that the Hawks were down to ten men, they looked uplifted and started to play much better, looking as though they were the better of the two sides.

This increase in pressure from the Harlow side led to a shock own-goal from Jed Essayah, who touched it into his own net from a corner before Fabion Simms levelled things just three minutes later, with Cousins flicked it on to assist him. The defender tapped it over a diving McKenzie-Lyle.

One further major opportunity arose in the game as Heath captain Jamie Willing ran forward well before slipping a ball into Jack McShane. At a tight angle, McShane almost pulled it across into the net, but instead dragged it inches wide of the left post.

In the end, both sides had to settle for a point in what was a game of few chances, but one in which Harlow showed great resolve and resilience to push on and grab two big goals even though they had a man less.

Our unbeaten run continues and is now at nine games and we thank you for the continued support and hope to see you for one final game before Christmas as we travel to AFC Welwyn. We will confirm where this match will be taking place as soon as possible across all of our social media platforms.