When a goal was needed most, it was Jack Cousins with his first touch of the game who made the difference for the Hawks at the weekend as we went on to secure a 1-2 win over Dunmow Town in Saffron Walden and keep the pressure on Hackney Wick heading into the final two games of the league campaign.

It was not the finest of performances by any means, but on a tough, ‘slopey’ pitch away in Saffron Walden, the Hawks ‘won ugly’, with it coming right down to the final moments in the game.

With Fabion Simms holding a slight injury and missing the game as a precaution, the Hawks lined up with a back three of Folkes, Jones and Heald, with Egrbi and Small out wide, Love, Barker, and Gordon in midfield and Agyemang and Ameen leading the line.

Starting quickly, the home side generated an early chance through Joe Lilly, who struck it over on the edge of the Harlow box.

Soon after, Fred Agyemang headed it on-to Ishaq Ameen who attempted to loft it over the keeper Liam Keeble, but instead hit it out of the stadium.

Jakim Antoine hit a volley for Dunmow Town into orbit, before controversy struck after Dan Heald attempted to tackle Dunmow striker Darnell Fuller, with the home side appealing for a penalty, but the referee refusing to award it.

From a penalty call down one end, to a separate call down the other as Jack Young’s boot was high, striking Arley Barker in the box. This time, the referee awarded a penalty, to the away side.

Ishaq Ameen stepped up for Harlow Town, placing his penalty down the middle and beating Liam Keeble, to give Harlow a first half advantage.

It really should have been 1-1 when Darnell Fuller was played in-behind for Dunmow Town, but the striker took it on his weaker left-foot, and James Pellin made himself big to deny him a huge opportunity.

Terrell Egbri decided to test the waters from distance, striking an effort towards Liam Keeble, who spilled it but later clinched onto it.

Darnell Fuller went on to have another shot saved after his effort was rather tame before Syrus Gordon hit a thunderbolt of an effort for Harlow Town on the half-volley, but it was straight at Keeble, who saved it well.

On the brink of half-time, Harlow continued to look for a second goal to double their lead and they very nearly found it when Tom Jelliman’s corner fell excellently for Fred Agyemang who, with the goal gaping, blasted it over from four yards out, squandering a major chance.

The Hawks did lead 0-1 at the break, but were fully aware that more goals would be needed to defeat a hungry Dunmow Town side.

Harlow started the second half the more lively of the two sides, looking to pick up where they left off in the first half. Ishaq Ameen had a half chance which travelled just over the bar, but the striker would have been offside anyway.

Not long into the second half, Dunmow Town found an equaliser through their star striker Darnell Fuller – the top scorer in the Thurlow Nunn Division One South this season. The striker hit an effort from distance which bent into the bottom-left corner, with James Pellin’s dive not enough to stop it, and the home side wheeled away in celebration.

A bombardment of Harlow chances followed, desperately looking for a goal to regain the advantage, but none of which necessarily troubled Keeble in the home goal.

Fuller looked to further damage Harlow Town going forward with a volleyed effort at the near-post but James Pellin was fairly comfortable to stop it.

Ishaq Ameen came closest for Harlow Town to finding a second goal, as he skimmed the top of the bar from a near-post effort, but the ball bounced over and out.

Chances at either end followed, with Dunmow Town very nearly finding a late winner through substitute Beay Ponsford, but he dragged his shot just wide of the Harlow goal, as James Pellin was rooted to the spot.

Eventually, the goal finally came for Harlow, despite many fearing it may never arrive. Tom Jelliman whipped in a free-kick which was met impeccably by Jack Cousins, heading with panache beyond Liam Keeble and into the Dunmow Town net in the 86th minute of the game. It was Cousins’ first touch of the game after coming on from the bench a minute earlier, but he was the hero on the day, rescuing Harlow Town with a huge goal and keeping the title race well and truly on.

Also fresh off the bench, Jack Haley looked to extend Harlow’s lead from the right-hand side, as he chipped Keeble but was denied by the crossbar. Down the other end, Reggie Pegrum came painfully close to equalising for Dunmow Town, beating James Pellin to the ball at the back-post but missing the goal entirely.

Harlow Town eventually emerged victorious 1-2 and took all three points back to Harlow.

Overall, as previously mentioned, it was by no means our best performance of the season, but it was one in which we dominated, but struggled to find the net on many occasions. However, when it was most needed, a goal from Jack Cousins made the largest mark on the game and saw us victorious again, completing a league double over Dunmow Town.

We thank you very much for your fantastic continued support, and we hope to see you next Saturday as we head to Wodson Park, Ware to face FC Baresi away from home, kicking off at 3pm.