Ryman Premier

Harlow Town 1 v 2 Dulwich Hamlet

IT LOOKS like it is going to be a long hard season for Harlow Town as they let go a lead to lose 2-1 to Dulwich Hamlet at the Harlow Arena.

Harlow made an unsteady start against a strong combative Hamlet but having said that, they took the lead in the 8th minute when Alex Read floated high in the box to head the ball home.

If there was a criticism of Hamlet last season it was that they flattered to deceive and made sloppy mistakes.

Mario Noto’s free kicks were giving Hamlet all sorts of problems

Hamlet’s first chance came in the 17th minute when Gavin Tomlin was free in the area.He tried to curl the ball around David Hughes but it hit the post.

As the half progressed, Hamlet took a hold of the game and it was Tomlin’s free kicks that were creating trouble but Harlow have, in David Hughes, a confident and assured keeper.

It was so nearly two in the 34th minute when keeper Preston Edwards made a superb finger tip save to deny Joe Benjamin from close range.

With a bit of handbags in the tunnel at half time, the fate of Harlow Town in the second half was all about remaining calm. A wonderfully timed interception by veteran Craig Pope lead the way.

Hamlet’s keeper Preston Edwards has always been a class act and he pulled off an outstanding save from Jared Small to keep the South London team in the game.

Alex Read was continuing to produce lots of industry up front.

But from out of nowhere, in the 67th minute, Ashley Carew, as only he could received the ball on the edge of the area and delivered a rocket into the top of the net.

Dulwich went for the kill as they sensed the three points were there for the taking. And sure enough, Danny Carr made it 2-1 with a neat header in the 70th minute.

Harlow never really came back from this point. The Hawks didn’t particularly do anything wrong but rather Dulwich are a durable and class act at this level who, we feel, will be in the mix for the play off places come next year.

This season may well be all about survival for the Hawks and that is no disgrace.

With that in mind, they face Wingate and Finchley at home, on Saturday, 3pm.

Harlow Town: Hughes D, Pope C, Eadie L. Jones B, Moges A, Simms F, Small J, Noto M, Read A, Wixon P, Benjamin J (Bishop K 65)

Subs not used: Antoine L, West S, Bishop K, Perkins L, Thompson E

Dulwich Hamlet: Edwards P, Ming S, Green N, Kargbo I, Weatherstone M, Chambers M, Clunis N, Carew A, Carr D, Tomlin G, Beaney K (Daniel K 60)

Subs not used: Daniel K, Michael-Percil R, Mason S, Drage M, Cunningham S

Ref: C.Pearse
Att: 328