HARLOW Town are on the verge of promotion after a dramatic twist on Saturday afternoon.

Many began the day thinking league leaders Hackney Wick would beat second from bottom Newbury Forest, leaving them with one to play to secure the one automatic promotion spot.

And that is how it seemed as they went 2-0 up after seven minutes.

Meanwhile, Harlow Town could only do their best.

Harlow Town beat FC Baresi 3-1 with goals by Jared Small (7 and 45) and Denzel Effiah (15).

But then in the space of a few minutes, Newbury Forest scored two goals and secured a draw against Hackney.

This means that if Harlow Town beat bottom club St Margaretsbury on Easter Monday, then they will win the league and secure promotion.

Hackney Wick travels to ninth placed May and Baker EC.

Harlow Town v St Margaretsbury is at 3pm at the Pardus Wealth Arena.

Full report below

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Report by Logan Young

Yes, you read that right. After the reality was starting to set that Hackney Wick were going to become champions on Monday afternoon, the Hawks kept plugging away in the hope that a miracle would happen and Hackney Wick would drop points. It has happened, and as a result we find ourselves top of the Thurlow Nunn Division One South on goal difference and are one game away from Step 5 football next season.

However, this is of course not about Hackney Wick, who have played to the highest possible standard all season commendably, and we know that by no means has the story been written yet. Monday’s game is huge and with it being a local derby, we hope to have a fantastic crowd to cheer the Hawks towards the title. But instead this is about our awesome Harlow Town side who despite the belief being low, despite the almost inevitability that playoffs would be on the way, they showed perseverance and came away with what could be a momentous three points today.

First Team Manager Danny Chapman, on his birthday (which we send him happy wishes for) opted for a changed Harlow Town side, with the Hawks lining up in a 4-3-3 formation, rather than the typical 3-5-2. Jesse Ansen received his first start in a long time playing left-back, with James Folkes and Teddy Jones acting as the two centre-backs, with Dan Heald at right-back.

The midfield was unchanged from our 1-2 win over Dunmow Town last week, with Jared Small leading the line this afternoon, with Terrell Egbri out wide to his right, and Denzel Effah returning from suspension to his left.

It didn’t take long for Harlow to find the advantage with one of their first attacks of the game resulting in a goal. Seven minutes in, Denzel Effah whipped in a cross from the left-hand side, which FC Baresi’s defence could not clear effectively and Jared Small was there to pick up the pieces and smash it home for the Hawks.

Arley Barker looked to quickly add to this lead after winning the ball back high up the pitch tenaciously but, despite his shot having great power, it lacked direction and was stopped by Harvey Simson.

Soon after this, Harlow Town found their second goal of the game as Terrell Egbri crossed it towards the back-post, Jared Small hit it goalwards and Denzel Effah finished it off with a close-range header. At this point it felt as though it was becoming a question of how many Harlow Town would score.

Syrus Gordon came agonisingly close to extending the lead after his close-ranged effort struck the post.

Despite this, FC Baresi proved they were still well in the game, with their captain Edson Lami sliding it home and getting on the end of a low cross.

In the final moments of the first-half, Jared Small regained Harlow’s 2-goal advantage with a simple finish from yet another Terrell Egbri cross as Harlow went in to half-time 1-3 up.

The second half wasn’t so similar to the first in that it was completely goalless, but Harlow’s defence worked well throughout to ensure that FC Baresi would not find a goal and put the pressure on the Hawks.

Some half chances occurred for both sides but neither keeper was really tested in the second half, but with the news that Hackney Wick had let a 2 goal lead slip against 19th place Newbury Forest, the Hawks fans had more than enough to cheer about.

The final whistle was blown and Harlow had completed a solid victory in their final away game of the league season, and returned to the top of the Thurlow Nunn Division One South on goal difference.

We thank you for your continued support and hope to see you on Monday afternoon at our final game of the league season against St Margaretsbury at home – a local derby! A win would almost guarantee that we lift the title and gain promotion automatically.