Ryman Premier

Harlow Town 6 v 2 Worthing

By Luke Henry

HARLOW welcomed Worthing to the Harlow Arena looking to continue their fine run of form after the 3-1 home against Met Police on Tuesday evening. Worthing arrived a point behind their opponents going into the match, but did have two games in hand on the Hawks, but their form of two wins from seven in all competitions since the turn of the year had left them in 9th place.

The game started with the home side probing early on. A Junior Dadson cross found Jared Small at the back post who directed his header back across goal towards Fabion Simms, who flicked it to Read before the latter volleyed over the crossbar with the ball slightly behind him. Another Dadson cross produced the second chance of the game moments later, as Mario Noto was inches away from converting the opportunity if it hadn’t been for the interventions of full back Sam Rents and centre back Corey Heath, clearing the ball out for a corner that came to nothing.

The visitors then came forward and produced a chance of their own. Good powerful run from Omar Bugiel resulted in a free kick in a dangerous position after Stanley Muguo unfairly impeded him in the eyes of the Referee. Lloyd Dawes struck a low drive through the wall and straight into the arms of David Hughes in the Harlow net.

Harlow went down the other end immediately and almost opening the scoring. A great block from defender Corey Heath denied Jared Small’s fierce shot, instead falling for the danger man Alex Read, who managed to reach 150 and 151 goals for Harlow during the week, curled a shot onto the outside of the post from inside the area. Harlow were now starting to get into second gear after the opening 15 minutes and were on the frontfoot. Hesitation and a mistake from keeper Jack Fagan presented Alex Read with a chance to open the scoring. However, the striker opted to pass the ball out wide towards Jared Small, with the move losing momentum slightly before the winger found the oncoming Mario Noto shooting straight at Fagan, who had redeemed himself for his mistake moments ago. Craig Pope was next to test the keeper as his header was saved after a curling cross in from Alex Read.

Harlow were probing and the visitors had offered very little in the opening 20 minutes and it looked only a matter of time before Harlow were going to take one of these chances. Another goal mouth scramble occurred on 23 minutes, Fabion Simms showing great ball skills on the left hand side before laying it towards Junior Dadson who fizzed in a dangerous ball where Small and Noto having shots blocked before the later had another bite of the cherry which was always going wide, but Alex Read was inches away from directing the ball on target. As the half wore on, Harlow were still dominant with all the play in the away side’s half. Craig Pope’s darting run down the right hand side caused more problems, with the captain finding Alex Read who made Gary Elphick produce a fantastic block, with the centre half putting his body on the line to keep his side stalemate. The stalemate didn’t last for long though, as Harlow deservedly took the lead in the 31st Minute from no else but Alex Read, although the goal arrived in slightly controversial circumstances.

The whole game seemed to stop when Jared Small accidentally elbowed Sam Rents after chasing back to retrieve possession. The referee deemed nothing wrong despite the protests from the full back, he was caught out of position after a loose ball from the backline with Jared Small capitalising by sending in a pinpoint cross for Read to volley his 152nd Harlow goal off the underside of the bar and had deemed to have crossed the line. It had been no more than Harlow deserved during their first half performance, they could’ve had two or three already, but the visitors may of felt slightly aggrieved the goal came in that manner.

Worthing had been poor defensive this afternoon, looking shaky from corners and set pieces every time they had been delivered into the box, they did start to see some more of the ball during the end of the first half but didn’t create anything of note at all, The Hawks took a one goal lead going in at the break.

The second half saw Harlow show the same appetite and pace as they did in the first but nothing to show straight away. A rare foray forward from the visitors saw Harvey Sparks hitting one high, wide and it wasn’t very handsome. Harlow then had another chance to create some breathing space. Dadson again down the left showing blistering pace to get away from the right back, sending in a cross towards Small, who cushioned it into the path of Alex Read and with his back to goal unselfishly assisted Layne Eadie’s rasping drive just wide of the right hand post from the edge of the area. Harlow’s advantage finally doubled with a fantastic goal from the impressive Junior Dadson on 52 minutes.

Again, the winger beat his full back all ends up again before this time choosing the go alone and it paid off as he slotted the ball under the arm of the onrushing keeper to give Worthing a mountain to climb. The scoreline was starting to finally represent the Home side’s dominance as just after the hour it was 3-0 with Jared Small getting on the scoresheet as Dadson this time turned provider. His cross from the left was inch perfect and there was Small at the back post to plant a header into the ground and into the net. Harlow rampant and it was turning into a rout. Worthing hit back on 66 minutes out of nothing, literally nothing. Lloyd Dawes seemed to be too far out to even think about having a shot and with three Harlow defenders marshalling him closely, he took one touch out his feet and with minimal backlift flashed a shot through the legs of Layne Eadie which unsighted Hughes slightly but the pace of the ball was just too quick for the keeper to adjust himself and it nestled in the bottom corner. 25 minutes left to play, it was more looking like a consolation than game on. Harlow continued within the same vein after conceding and Dadson again nearly found the top corner with a terrific effort that was destined for the goal, slightly too high. Harlow still looked comfortable, however two goal leads in football are always dangerous as the next goal could be crucial.

Unbelievable, with 15 minutes remaining and with their second meaningful shot of the second half, Worthing cut the deficit to a solitary one. Good intricate skills from Dawes on the edge of the box found Harvey Sparks, who finished with a left foot strike to set up a nervy finish at the Harlow Arena. There was an suspicion of offside from the winger, however it wasn’t given and Harlow will now be rueing them missed chances.
Just when you think you have seen it all, step up Layne Eadie who scored an extraordinary volley from a full 35 yards out. A clearance from the Worthing backline following a cross from Craig Pope trickled towards the left boot of Eadie and the venomous drive flew into the top corner, leaving Fagan absolutely no chance. Surely a contender for goal of the season, if not the goal of the season itself. Fantastic technique and precision from the left back. Simply stunning. A goal worthy to settle any type of contest.

Harlow weren’t finished there as two minutes later, this crazy second half took another twist with Junior Dadson bagging his second from Improbable range. Similar to Worthing’s first goal in the sense of there being nothing really on, and Dadson with a low left foot strike with the aid of a slight deflection restored Harlow’s three goal lead. That’s three goals in 4 second half minutes, an absolute flurry of goals, that made for a fantastic spectacle. What a second half. Worthing were now finally dead and buried and the intensity of the game had now started to peter out, the visitors had been second best for the majority of the match despite pulling it back to 3-2 at one point during the game. Harlow may off just taken their foot off the gas in that 10 minute period.
There was still time for the substitutes of Harlow to combine to great effect and put extra gloss on the scoreline with Bamba Ngamb striking right at the death. Decisive wing play from Khale Da Costa, beating two defenders before delivering a low cross towards the near post, finding the feet of Ngamb, who turned, swiveled and volleyed into the bottom corner to cap off a brilliant victory for the Hawks in a pulsating 90 minute encounter, who were excellent right from the word go. The Hawks strong home record continues and the push for the play off’s is now a real possibility, while Worthing had the chance to redeem themselves by gaining maximum points in their games in hand over Harlow, so they keep themselves in with a chance of the play offs. Harlow go up against Staines away from home next time round, in the hope they can continue this good form on the road which has alluded them this season, while Worthing will be hoping to get back to winning ways against Canvey Island away from home.

Att:254