Ryman Div One North

Harlow Town 2 v 1 Needham Market

HARLOW produced a terrific team performance to beat Needham Market 2-1 at the Harlow Arena.

Harlow looked to start brightly in the blustery conditions but their efforts were hampered by Stanley Muguo limping out after just six minutes.

But Harlow were plugging away as they looked for that killer through-ball.

Despite a Ryan Charles shot from outside the box, Needham were not looking threatening.

Leon Antoine really should have done better when the ball spilled into his path after an Ian Westlake mistake in the area but he nudged it too far.

But with too many unforced errors, the Hawks were letting the Marketmen back into the game.

And as the half went on it was the mistakes from both sides that was dictating the shape of the game.

The best chance of the half came after Harlow earned a corner after an Alex Read shot was deflected for a corner. Greene fired it over and Plummer did well to hold on to a Danny Brown header.

Former Colchester striker, Jamie Guy was starting to shine. A touch here and a strong run there, he showed why he had played at a higher level. He produced a great shot in the 40th minute which Harlow did well to smother.

In the 42nd minute, Market earned free kick in a prime position but again Ian Westlake blasted it high over the bar.

Harlow took the game by the scruff of the neck at the start of the second half. They pinged the ball around the park and looked a lot more assertive.

Alex Read had a couple of half chances and Aaron Greene produced a fine shot as they tried to break the Needham spirit.

The game also became a little stretched. In the 57th minute, it looked like Alex Read had sprung the offside trap but the linesmen raised his flag.

In the 65th minute, Harlow pinged the ball around the park. Again, Alex Read just failed to get on the end of a great cross from Leon Antoine.

This was entertaining stuff and sure enough Harlow got their just desserts in the 70th minute, when Shane Stamp, from just inside the box, produced a great volley to put Harlow a goal up.

In the 73rd minute, Alex Read produced a great individual effort to weave past a couple of Market defenders and slam the ball into the net.

Needham skipper Sheridan Driver pulled one back in the 88th minute after a great move but the Hawks were able to hold off,

Harlow will want to build upon this success as they climb back up the league. There next game is Tuesday November 5th at home against Dereham.

Harlow Town: Behcet D, Martin R, Eadie L, McLeod-Urquhart J, Brown D, Blewitt D, Dadson J (Smith J 65), (Muguo S 6) Glowacki J, Read A, Antoine L, Greene A (Stamp S 60).

Subs not used: Curley S, May J

Needham Market: Plummer A, Driver S, Coakley D, Westlake I, Townrow L, Fenn O, Ingram L, Izzet K, Guy J, Charles R (Thrower S 60), Melaugh R

Subs not used: Heath B, Norfolk L, Bloomfield D, Munson N

Referee: Tom Ratheram

Att: 196