An early Jared Small goal was enough to separate the teams in a tough game on a boggy pitch. Both teams went into the game in good form, but the Harlow defence maintained their first clean sheet in 12 games to take the three points.

Soham Town started the game well, Marcus Hall breaking through the Harlow defence in the first couple of minutes to force a good save from ‘keeper Ed Thompson.
Soham’s Matt Simpson then ran onto a through-ball, but Thompson was once again too good, racing off his line to bravely collect the ball at the striker’s feet, getting clattered in the process.
Harlow began to find the rhythm though, and Jared Small, Alex Read and Shane Stamp combined well, although the shot was well saved.
Harlow took the lead in the 13th minute when league top-scorer Alex Read burst into the penalty box, brushing off the challenge of three defenders. He then calmly laid off the ball for Jared Small to tap home into the open net from 3 yards.
Harlow continued to create chances, Leon Antoine having a good opportunity to double the lead. He chested the ball down in the area, but then didn’t connect well with the shot to trouble home goalkeeper Lamar Joseph-Johnson.
After a bright opening 20 minutes, the boggy pitch took its toll, and the game became disjointed, lots of minor fouls preventing any flow to the attacks.
Soham Town were creating chances, a deflected shot hitting the bar before going over. Just before half-time they had a good opportunity to equalise when a corner was heading goalwards, but Sam Holloway headed it off the line.

HT: Soham Town Rangers 0-1 Harlow Town

The Hawks pressed forward again in the second half, looking to kill the game off with a second goal. Shane Stamp crossed in for Jared Small to shoot, only to see the point-blank effort saved well by the home ‘keeper.
Harlow were comfortable in the second half, having most of the possession in the middle of the pitch but just failing with the final ball to create goal-scoring opportunities.
Despite restricting Soham to few chances, the expertise of Ed Thompson was required again when Luke Stanley was through on goal for the hosts, but Thompson saved the shot well.
Layne Eadie worked well down the left hand side, running past three defenders, but his cross bobbled up on the uneven turf just before it reached Alex Read, so the strikers shot went high and wide.
As the game reached injury time, both sides had great chances to score. Fabion Simms’ pass found Alex Read, whose close range shot was saved well.
At the other end, Eadie’s clearance deflected and fell kindly for Matt Simpson to salvage a point for the home side. Ed Thompson was equal to it again, pushing the ball away to the sound of the final whistle.

FT: Soham Town Rangers 0-1 Harlow Town

ATTENDANCE: 139

Despite the narrow scoreline, Harlow were comfortable for most of the game to take the three points and maintain the six point lead at the top of the table. Second-placed Needham Market also won their game, although Wroxham and Brentwood in third and fourth respectively drew with each other, so he top two pull even further ahead.

Harlow Town