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.