CHELMSFORD CITY 2 HARLOW TOWN 1 Ryman League Premier Division 24-09-07

Match report by Billy Shaw
Photographs by Tony Fowles

CHELMSFORD’S winner seemed inevitable in the end as Harlow’s defensive line was brought to it’s knees.
Just shy of 1,000 people watched Monday night’s match at Melbourne Park, in which the hosts looked lethal in the last 20 minutes.
The decimated Hawks defence could do nothing to stop Ricky Holmes’ blistering solo effort on 88 minutes which gave Chelmsford the three points.
Kenny Davis marked his 100th competitive appearance for the Hawks with a solid performance on the right, while Shaun and Michael Gliddon were both unavailable through sickness.
James Bunn lashed atrociously wide on 12 minutes after Ryan Kirby’s ball out of the defence was flicked in his direction, with both sides failing to fully settle down.
Jon Keeling was a threat on the left side of the box, but a saving tackle from Kenny Davis prevented him from getting in a cross just prior to the quarter-hour mark.
In the next instance two minutes later, Keeling did managed to get the ball through to Chris Duffy, who went down under a challenge from Danny Chapman, but the referee emphatically waved away City’s claims for a penalty.
Leon Lalite smashed Harlow into a 28th-minute lead with a sensational strike into the top corner with the outside of his right foot.
Danny Hill found Dean Williams deep on the right, who beat defender Duffy before passing inside to Lalite, allowing him to smash past former Bishop’s Stortford keeper Danny Gay in the Chelmsford goal.
The visitors continued to battle, but City drew level seven minutes later.
A high corner from Lee Protheroe caught the defending Hawks napping, allowing City skipper Andy Duncan to rise high and place a firm header into the net.
Both sides made a lively start to the second half, and Lalite almost sent Williams clear on 51 minutes, but keeper Gay raced off his line to beat him to the through ball.
The Hawks defence would have had to deal with a tirade of attacks had Chelmsford placed any of their crosses correctly, with Lee Protheroe the evident main culprit of misplacing long passes when going forward.
Ben Sedgemore didn’t cause Harlow stopper Michael Dumoulin too much trouble with a scooped effort on 54 minutes, before a rejected penalty claim at the other end left Dean Williams livid.
Williams tripped as he latched onto Jordan Fowler’s through ball on 59 minutes, but the referee indicated it was not the fault of any of the three City defenders riding his coattails.
James Bunn had to crane his neck to get his head to Lalite’s cross, but the attacker headed wide on 64 minutes.
Harlow hearts were in Harlow mouths when Ricky Holmes headed against the bar with 20 minutes left after Protheroe’s corner was flicked on.
The ball then rebounded dangerously into a crowded area, but the Hawks cleared their lines after a scramble.
Michael Dumoulin’s heroic diving save to deny Holmes from 20 yards out prompted a rapturous applause from all 979 in the crowd two minutes later.
City substitute Bertie Brayley shot across goal but he watched as his effort sailed past the upright.
Lee Miles defended resolutely as City really began to squeeze in search of the inevitable winner, but it was only a matter of time.
Dumoulin did well to keep hold of Brayley’s low drive from the edge of the box on 86 minutes, and despite efforts to bolster Harlow’s crumbling defence with the introduction of Kevin Warren, Chelmsford scored two minutes from the end.
Miles’ header out fell to Holmes, who mirrored a couple of his earlier efforts by cutting into the midfield, riding weak challenge after weak challenge and unleashing a left-footed pile driver into the top corner which not even the impressive Dumoulin had a chance of reaching.Harlow Tn: Michael Dumoulin, Kenny Davis, Mark Taylor (sub: Kevin Warren, 87), Ryan Kirby, Danny Chapman, Lee Miles, Leon Lalite, Danny Hill, James Bunn, Jordan Fowler, Dean Williams (sub: Danny Green, 73). Subs not used: Clark Akers, Lewis Baker.

HARLOW TOWN 0 HASTINGS UNITED 0 Ryman League Premier Division 22-09-07

Match report by Billy Shaw

Photographs by Antony Fowles

POSITIVES can be taken from the Hawks’ goalless draw with Hastings United as their point won on Saturday pushed them up into 10th place in the Ryman premier division.
An impressive late save from keeper Michael Dumoulin ensured the hosts took something from the game after a decent second-half performance from United.
The teenage goalie kept a second successive clean sheet after starting again in light of the recent departure of Ian Joyce.
First choice keeper James Hasell remains sidelined with a hand injury, but sportingly still attends Harlow’s matches to cheer on his colleagues, with Saturday being no exception.
Dean Williams was left kicking himself early on when he failed to score with an open goal gaping at him following James Bunn’s ball in.
Williams steered the ball goalwards at close range, but was denied by a goalline clearance from Rhys Whyborne on three minutes.
Russell Eldridge found the side netting at the other end three minutes later after being fed by Dan Spice.
Jordan Fowler fancied his luck from long range, but only found the roof of the net on 15 minutes, and went yet closer with a second shot from a similar distance six minutes later, this time striking the framework.
A menacing ball in from Ade Olorunda had keeper Dumoulin beaten on 26 minutes, but defender Danny Chapman retreated to clear the danger.
Chapman was on hand again to thwart Hastings’ attack in the 38th minute, bravely blocking a low drive from Eldridge.
The visitors upped the pace in the second period in search of an opener, but the Hawks defended resolutely.
Harlow mounted their own attack nine minutes after the restart, but Leon Lalite could only watch as his speculative shot sailed wide.
Dean Williams charged forward on 58 minutes, but went to ground under pressure from three Hastings defenders as United obstructed the Hawks’ attacking attempts.
A good saving tackle from Whyborne prevented Williams again on 63 minutes, before the Harlow striker was cautioned for a bad tackle two minutes later.
Olorunda raced away on the break with 20 minutes left, but Lee Miles recovered to block his effort, while lively winger Dan Spice also went clear but launched the ball high over the bar from long range.
Spice again got into space on 80 minutes, but his early cross was too long for substitute Sam Adams to reach.
Hawks management made a double substitution with eight minutes of normal time remaining, introducing Danny Green and Kenny Davis in a bid to find a goal.
Lalite sent Green through behind the defence shortly after the changes, but United keeper Lee Worgan raced off his line and beat the attacker to the ball.
Lee Carey would have nicked it for Hastings had it not been for the fast reactions of Dumoulin on 86 minutes.
The Hastings substitute was laid off by Olorunda after Spice’s throw-in, but the stopper dived low to his right to push his effort round the post.Harlow Tn: Michael Dumoulin, Mark Taylor, Kevin Warren (sub: Shaun Gliddon, 87), Lee Miles, Ryan Kirby, Danny Chapman, Leon Lalite, Danny Hill (sub: Kenny Davis, 82), James Bunn, Jordan Fowler, Dean Williams (sub: Danny Green, 82). Subs not used: Michael Gliddon, Lewis Baker.

HARLOW TOWN 2 CONCORD RANGERS 0 FA Cup 1st qualifying round 15-9-07

Match report by Billy Shaw

Photographs by Tony Fowles

EXACTLY 45 years and seven days after Harlow Town lost the first FA Cup tie to be played at the Sportcentre Ground 2-0 to Wealdstone, Ryan Kirby’s troops dumped Concord Rangers out by the same scoreline in the first FA Cup match at Barrows Farm.
Mark Taylor and Danny Chapman hit classy strikes in the first half for a Hawks side much changed since their league clash with Tonbridge Angels a week previously.
Michael Dumoulin took over goalkeeping duties, while Ryan Kirby, Michael Gliddon and Mark Taylor made starts in the back line.
Leon Lalite’s quick free kick sent Dean Williams clear on four minutes, but the striker could only find the side netting.
James Bunn turned Dan Trenkel on the edge of the box after being fed by Taylor, but fired over the bar before Harlow took the lead on 18 minutes.
Lalite was clipped by a Concord defender earning a free kick, which allowed Taylor to step up and curl an exquisite ball around the wall and into the top corner from 25 yards out.
The first of eight yellow cards brandished by referee Mike Smith was shown to Danny Hill in the 19th minute for his protests at a free kick awarded against Ryan Kirby.
Concord should have equalized on 26 minutes when Danny Hayzleden provided a pinpoint cross to the unmarked Chris Stowe, but the attacker failed to make contact with his head and the ball sailed harmlessly wide.
Stowe went close a minute later when his low shot deflected off Ryan Kirby and beat Michael Dumoulin in goal, but fortunately for Harlow it also cleared the crossbar and landed on the roof of the net.
The Hawks doubled their advantage on 38 minutes after Leon Lalite’s corner caused chaos in the Concord goalmouth.
The ball was scrambled out and fell to James Bunn, whose shot rebounded off a defender amongst a mass of bodies in the area before coming out to Danny Chapman, whose delightful volley flew past keeper Phil Skelton into the net.
Jordan Fowler flashed a low shot past the upright three minutes after the restart, before Stowe was left kicking himself for missing another golden opportunity when he ran on to meet Michael Begg’s cross but headed wide on 55 minutes.
Danny Chapman and Concord’s Danny Hayzleden were both cautioned for a clash between them just before the hour mark, while player/boss Kirby was also booked for unnecessarily kicking the ball away on 65 minutes.
In midfield, Leon Lalite demonstrated some clever passing moves with the assistance of substitute Clark Akers before getting a left-footed shot away which flew wide on 68 minutes. Akers himself forced a good stop from keeper Skelton shortly afterwards.
Begg was adjudged offside after keeper Dumoulin had spilled a low drive from Hayzleden and the ball was played back in, the linesman’s flag denying the prowling attacker on 86 minutes.
Referee Smith upset Hawks fans late on when visiting stopper Skelton committed himself and appeared to bring down Clark Akers in the box, but the official was adamant there was no penalty to be given.Harlow Tn: Michael Dumoulin, Mark Taylor, Kevin Warren, Michael Gliddon, Ryan Kirby, Danny Chapman, Leon Lalite, Danny Hill (sub: Clark Akers, 57), James Bunn, Jordan Fowler, Dean Williams (sub: Danny Green, 80). Subs not used: Shaun Gliddon, Lewis Baker, Lee Miles.

TONBRIDGE ANGELS 1 HARLOW TOWN 2 Ryman League Premier Division 8-9-07

Match report by Billy Shaw

Photographs by Tony Fowles

MARK Taylor made a sensational return to first team action as the Hawks recorded their third Ryman premier division victory in eight days.
Taylor, who came on as a substitute mid way through the second half, hit a 90th minute winner as Harlow came from behind to seal the points at Longmead Stadium on Saturday.
He had missed the previous few games, but did feature in Harlow Town Reserves’ 4-1 defeat by AFC Hornchurch three days earlier.
Experienced midfielder Danny Hill missed Saturday’s game, watched by 352, due to a stomach bug, and was replaced in the starting line-up by Shaun Gliddon.
Tonbridge missed a golden opportunity to take an early lead when Tommy Tyne beat the offside trap but shot wide with only the keeper to beat on eight minutes.
With Harlow’s defence in tatters, the hosts pulled off the same trick again four minutes later when Hamid Barr raced behind the defence to latch onto Ray Powell’s ball down the right wing, escaping the linesman’s flag but again dragging a low shot wide.
Shortly afterwards, Harlow’s Leon Lalite curled a free kick into the side netting from deep on the left following Powell’s late tackle on Dean Williams.
The home side took the lead on 15 minutes through Scott Kinch after a controversial officials’ decision.
To the confusion of the crowd, the linesman inexplicably signaled for a Tonbridge free kick on the right wing. It was unclear what the set piece was awarded for, but Ryan Martin took the kick and a glancing touch from Tommy Tyne saw the ball deflect off Harlow keeper Ian Joyce into the path of Kinch, who duly stabbed home from six yards.
Two minutes later, nippy forward Jon Main rounded keeper Joyce, but Beckett Hollenbach retreated to block the attacker’s shot.
The visitors equalized on the half-hour mark when Jordan Fowler played a through ball into the path of James Bunn, who took control of the ball before shooting low past home goalkeeper Matt Reed into the far bottom corner of the net.
Kevin Warren played Dean Williams into space on 41 minutes, but the striker blazed over the bar after cutting into the midfield to get his shot away.
Tonbridge came close to doubling their lead ten minutes after half time when a mistake by Danny Chapman let Hamid Barr in behind the defence, and having beaten the keeper, the midfielder could only watch as his effort rebounded off the post, with Harlow recovering to mop up the danger.
At the other end, Kenny Davis’ deflected cross looped over the defence to Williams, but the attacker’s low volley on the turn hit keeper Reed on 62 minutes.
With a quarter of an hour to go, the Tonbridge defence failed to clear their lines after Leon Lalite’s corner, and Davis’ ball back in needed only a slight touch from Williams to force a low save from Reed.
Williams fought off pressure from Kurt Husnu to get a cross in with ten minutes remaining, but James Bunn’s header came off a defender and went out for a corner.
Seconds later, Davis fed Lalite, who tested Reed’s reactions with a sharp shot from the edge of the area, which the keeper did well to hold.
Mark Taylor scooped all three points for the Hawks on 90 minutes when his in-swinging ball from the left evaded everyone in the box and sailed into the far corner of Reed’s net.Harlow Tn: Ian Joyce, Kenny Davis, Kevin Warren (sub: Mark Taylor, 68), Beckett Hollenbach (sub: Ryan Kirby, 82), Lee Miles, Danny Chapman, Leon Lalite, Shaun Gliddon, James Bunn, Jordan Fowler, Dean Williams. Subs not used: Danny Green, Michael Gliddon, Michael Dumoulin (GK).

CARSHALTON ATHLETIC 0 HARLOW TOWN 2 Ryman League Premier Division 4-9-07

Match report by Billy Shaw
Photographs by Tony Fowles

THE Hawks secured their second consecutive win on Tuesday night – but they had Carshalton goalkeeper Aaron Howe to thank for a big assist.
The Robins keeper was left red faced after pummeling Kenny Davis’ cross into his own net towards the end of the first half to give Harlow a 1-0 lead.
Dean Williams netted the second deep into added time to complete a 2-0 victory and put the Hawks into 12th place going into Saturday’s trip to Tonbridge Angels.
Player/boss Ryan Kirby named himself as a substitute after missing the last few games through injury, and after directing proceedings from the dugout, came on for Danny Hill for the last five minutes in Surrey.
The visitors went immediately on the offensive from the kick-off, with Jordan Fowler seeing his shot blocked by opposite number Craig Dundas after just 20 seconds, forcing a corner.
At the other end, Harlow stopper Ian Joyce made a good stop to deny Philip Ruggles on 13 minutes, but he made harder work of dealing with the attacker’s second attempt five minutes later, spilling a low shot but rectifying the mistake by pouncing on the loose ball.
Liam Hardwood headed straight at Joyce from a deep free kick by James Evans, conceded when Leon Lalite hauled down Gary Drewett on 25 minutes.
Dundas launched a 35-yard shot after getting goal side of his marker but watched it sail over the bar on 31 minutes.
Carshalton went close two minutes later when Evans switched play to the right side and found Luke Fontana, who beat Clark Akers and got his shot away, only for Joyce to fumble and let the ball free. Akers recovered and sliced away, before Beckett Hollenbach stepped in to clear the danger completely.
A freak incident gave the Hawks the lead in the 37th minute. Kenny Davis’ intended cross from the right wing was heading just wide of the keeper Howe’s right-hand post.
To cover the danger, Howe reached with both hands to pluck the plummeting ball from the air, but took his eye off it and was horrified when it dropped through the palms of his hands and bounced agonizingly over the line. After a short hesitation, the referee awarded the goal.
Liam Harwood poked goalwards ten minutes after the restart, forcing Joyce into an awkward low stop on his left.
Carshalton’s Jack MacLeod’s long-range shot drifted just wide of the post just before the hour mark with keeper Joyce beaten.
MacLeod dragged another effort wide on 73 minutes, before Joyce caught a half-volley from substitute Christopher Day four minutes subsequently.
Defender Ryan Watts ventured forward and saw his shot on the turn fly just past the post on 87 minutes, before the visitors sealed the points three minutes into stoppage time.
Keeper Howe came off his line to try and clear a horrendous backpass from captain David Graves, but Dean Williams charged down before collecting the ball, but his resulting shot was saved by the keeper.
90th-minute substitute Tobi Ositola collected the rebound, but he shot across the face of an open goal and struck the far post. Williams then tucked home the loose ball.Harlow Tn: Ian Joyce, Kenny Davis, Clark Akers (sub: Tom McGowen, 67), Beckett Hollenbach, Lee Miles, Danny Chapman, Leon Lalite, Danny Hill (sub: Ryan Kirby, 85), James Bunn (sub: Tobi Ositola, 90), Jordan Fowler, Dean Williams. Subs not used: Shaun Gliddon, Michael Dumoulin (GK).

HARLOW TOWN 3 RAMSGATE 0 Ryman Premier Division 1-9-07

Match report by Billy Shaw
Photographs by Tony Fowles

FORMER Spurs star Danny Hill bagged his first goal for Harlow to help his side to their first win in the Ryman premier division.
James Bunn and man of the match Dean Williams added second half goals to complete a 3-0 victory for the Hawks at Barrows Farm.
An early chance went begging for the hosts when Lee Miles headed wide from Clark Akers’ cross on 10 minutes, before Andy Hadden shot wide at the other end six minutes later.
Hawks stopper Ian Joyce reacted well to stop a sharply rising shot on the turn from Shaun Welford on 23 minutes, having had his view obstructed by a crowded area and consequently seeing the ball late.
Dean Williams, making his first start of the season, tried a shot on 28 minutes, but a deflection off defender Nick Davis allowed for easy collection by Ramsgate goalkeeper Paul Wilkerson.
James Bunn sent Williams clear on 37 minutes, but the striker took too many touches and only won a corner after Wilkerson positioned himself well.
Experienced midfielder Danny Hill opened the scoring six minutes before the break with a right footed shot which glided across the face of goal, deflecting into the far bottom corner off Wilkerson’s outstretched hand.
Jordan Fowler got a glimpse of goal in the 41st minute, but Wilkerson raced off his line to clear the danger after a menacing ball in from Leon Lalite.
Two minutes after the restart, Wilkerson fumbled an inviting cross from Kenny Davis into the path of James Bunn, but the forward shot straight back at the keeper.
As the visitors upped their game, Lee Minshull blazed over the bar from six yards out after being set up by Dean Hill and Steffan Ball in the 52nd minute.
Frustrated, Danny Hill was booked for a bad tackle, before Ramsgate missed a second chance from point blank range, this time when Ball headed over after Minshull’s flick-on shortly after the hour mark.
A sustained period of attack on Harlow’s goal ended when Lalite charged down Welford’s shot seconds after keeper Joyce showed strength in a tough aerial challenge with Will Graham.
At the other end, James Bunn was upended in the box by Ben Laslett on 72 minutes when chasing a low Dean Williams cross, but was soon back on his feet to stroke home the resulting penalty. Keeper Wilkerson went the right way but couldn’t stretch far enough to stop it.
Jordan Fowler joined Hill in the referee’s notebook a quarter of an hour from the end after allegedly making no attempt to put ten yards between himself and the ball after Beckett Hollenbach conceded a free kick.
Harlow put the game to bed in the 80th minute through Dean Williams, who latched onto Kenny Davis’ long ball after it deflected off the head of substitute Dan Tanner and fired past Wilkerson from inside the area.
Leon Lalite struck the upright late on with a right footed effort which left Wilkerson rooted to the spot.Harlow Tn: Ian Joyce, Kenny Davis, Clark Akers (sub: Tom McGowen, 59), Beckett Hollenbach, Lee Miles, Danny Chapman, Leon Lalite, Danny Hill (sub: Shaun Gliddon, 67), James Bunn, Jordan Fowler, Dean Williams (sub: Tobi Ositola, 85). Subs not used: Danny Green, Michael Dumoulin (GK).