ON Tuesday evening, a heavily-rotated Harlow Town side left it late to knock Step 6 Stanway Pegasus out of the BBC Essex Senior Cup in the first round.

The Hawks faced Stanway Pegasus in the Thurlow Nunn League Challenge Cup last season, defeating them 5-2 when both sides were top of their respective leagues; the reds went on to make the final of that competition, falling at the final hurdle to Hackney Wick.

Last time we played in the Essex Senior Cup, we were knocked out early as we hosted West Essex and lost 0-2.

Danny Chapman’s side started the game on the front foot, with Joe Dearman hitting the bar early. Minutes later, Korede Da Silva came close after running through on goal but side-footing it inches wide.

New signing Dwade James looked to make his mark early but headed an effort towards the ground.

Stanway went down the other end and struck an effort slightly wide through Harry Savage. The away side had one of their best spells of the game as Finn Rushton was forced to tip a shot over the bar after it took a deflection and looped goalwards.

A quiet first half came to a close with neither side having stamped down their authority on the game.

Jesse Ansen caused Sam Felgate to have to make a save after he hit one from 35 yards that originally looked like a cross but swerved at the Stanway goal.

Felgate made a superb save after Fabion Simms headed one from a corner. Despite being low to the ground, Felgate managed to redirect it over the bar.

Late on in the game, Harlow broke the deadlock after a scrappy bit of play from a corner in which Stanway could not get it clear, and Denzel Effah picked up the pieces to smash it home from close range.

Chapman’s side held on to achieve the victory. Stanway never really looked like scoring, with Harlow always in control, even if they didn’t create loads of chances.

We thank you for your fantastic support and hope to see you tomorrow as we face White Ensign in a friendly.