Southern League Central Division

Harlow Town 1 v 2 Walthamstow

Report courtesy of Aaron Moore at Harlow Town FC.

HARLOW Town remain without a win this season after a home defeat to Walthamstow Town on Bank Holiday Monday.

Hani Berchiche continued his fine start to the season with the opener for the Hawks, scoring his third goal of the season, but it wasn’t enough to inspire a Hawks triumph as the three points headed back to east London. 

The Hawks came close a couple of times in the opening minutes of the game as crosses were sent into the box, but both Jared Small and Fabion Simms touched the ball wide of the post. Set-pieces for either side came to nothing before the pressure from the hosts paid off with an goal just before the 15th minute. The ball was played over the top to Berchiche, with the forward making no mistake in slotting the beyond the Stow keeper. 

Stow looking for an instant reply, but Tommy Fletcher headed the ball straight at Nwosu, who comfortably held on. As the first half went on, neither side had a clear cut chance at goal until Jimmy Wallace rose well, but he couldn’t quite get the right contact on it. There was a penalty shout for the visitors, but the referee was quick to wave the shouts away before Stow found themselves level. Adalberto Pinto flicked the ball on at the far post before Kieran Cathline headed beyond Nwosu.

Right at the end of the half, Stow had a chance to take the lead, but Nwosu pulled off an excellent save to deny the away side. 

Josh Steele had the first opportunity of the second half, but the defenders head was just wide. Despite the positive start to the second half, Stow took the lead. Demaray Anyadike slipped away from Eadie, before cutting it back to Jeremiah Maja, who slotted home. 

The game became open, with both sides having chances. Callum Ibe sent a shot just wide before Nwosu pulled off a great save to deny Walthamstow and Cathline sent the rebounded effort over. For the Hawks, Berchiche tried an shot from a tight angle but his effort was dragged wide before Louis James shot with the keeper off his line, but a defender was there to prevent the shot. 

Stow put the Hawks under some pressure as they looked to kill off the game, but a free-kick for the away side, led to a free-kick going the other way. The Hawks started to dominate as the game reached the last 10 minutes. Dillon spilled the ball, leading to a scramble in the Stow box, but the ball was out for a corner. The resulting set-piece led to another scramble with James going down, but the referee waved away the shouts. The pressure continued but the Hawks couldn’t quite find the equaliser. The ball fell to Gordon in the box, but the skipper fired his effort over before a break was halted as Jared Small was taken out on the half-way line. The resulting free-kick came to nothing and Stow didn’t allow for many chances in the closing stages.

Harlow – Nwosu, Folkes, Eadie, Steele, Wallace, Simms (Attrill 34), Filip (Nzeh 75), Gordon, Small, Aliaj (James 58)

Walthamstow – Dillon, Anderson (Osei 75), Spillane (Anyadike 46), Boxer, Fletcher, Cathline, Bihimoutine, Pinto, Ward-Cochrane, Maja, Ibe (Brock 93)

Match data

Goals: Harlow – Berchiche 14; Walthamstow – Cathline 41, Maja 53

Yellow cards: Harlow – Small 63, Gordon 84, Wallace 87; Walthamstow – Spillane 15, Bihimoutine 65, Boxer 93

The result leaves Harlow Town in sixteenth place (out of 20).

Their next league game is on September 17th away at Barton Rovers.