After pre-season 2025 came to a close with a 5-1 victory over OIR FC, the first competitive challenge was upon Danny Chapman’s team – a Saturday away-day travel to the Greenfleets Stadium to face Aylesbury Vale Dynamos.

The game could not have started better for the Hawks, who found a lead in the opening 2 minutes after Jack Cousins whipped it into the box and Stef Georgiou headed home on his competitive debut for the club, stunning the defence of the home side early in the game.

The Dynamos looked to fire back through Dylan Stevens, who touched it down and took on a shot but the shot lacked fire-power, and drifted wide.

The Hawks continued their pressure and saw great success for much of the first-half in chance creation; Callum Ibe created an opportunity to have a crack on his left-foot, Jack Cousins tested Zammit from a free-kick in which he hit it low towards the bottom-right corner, Stef Georgiou had a good chance on the half-volley but hit the side-netting, and Jack Cousins smashed an effort over the bar from 6 yards.

Red dominance was the story for the majority of the first-half, with the Dynamos lacking a real attacking presence upfront, and their general play was sub-standard when compared to the away side. Despite this, due to a lack of clinical finishing, the score was just one at half-time.

Very little happened at the beginning of the second-half, with the game being noticeably ‘stop-start’ for a short period, but the Harlow pressure eventually paid off as they found their second, through yet another debut goal. This time it was the centre-back Louis Stead who tapped home after Arley Barker whipped in a corner and he lost his marker. The goal gave Harlow a cushion and meant that a comeback would require immense work from the home side.

A few chances went begging from Denzel Effah before Aylesbury Vale Dynamos did find a goal to claw themselves back into the game. They hit Harlow on the break, getting the ball down the right-wing before crossing to Alfie Anderson, who headed home, beating Harvey Steel to it. James Pellin could only watch as it went straight in.

From this moment onwards, a spark was ignited in the home side. They relentlessly pushed for an equalising goal but were often thwarted by the Harlow Town defence. Alfie Anderson registered one more shot which wasn’t a million miles away from the bottom-right corner but ultimately the blue and yellows ran out of time and the Hawks emerged victorious come the full-time whistle.

In summary, it was a game in which the Hawks could have been home and dry at half-time, but undoubtedly dominated for 90% of the game, playing some good football too in what was a completely new league for the club. It looked towards the very end of the game that the Dynamos may have found a way back into it, but the Hawks did excellently well to hang on until the end and deserved victory.

We thank you for your fantastic away support. The official attendance at the Greenfleets Stadium was 203, and we hope to see you tomorrow as we host Harpenden Town in our first home league game of the season.