(Match Report) Harlow Town Reserves 2 - 5 Sawbridgeworth Town Reserves

Harlow Town Reserves 2 - 5 Sawbridgeworth Town Reserves

This Friday night match between the 2 local rivals produced a real "Rocky IV" style thriller. Rocky IV is the best way to describe this epic encounter, Harlow (Ivan Drago) totally dominating the first 55 minutes and Sawbridgeworth Town (Rocky) looked totally beaten, but just when you thought than, Sawbridgeworth dragged themselves from the canvas and won the mighty fight.

Harlow totally controlled the first half and their dominance was rewarded on 20 minutes, Sawbridgeworth failed to deal properly with a corner and the ball fell at the feet of a Harlow midfielder on the edge of the box, his quick shot flew in off the inside of the left upright to give Harlow a well-deserved lead.
The 2nd followed 10 minutes later, an overlapping left-wing run saw Sawbridgeworth outnumbered, both center halves were drawn to the ball leaving the colossus center forward unmarked, the cross came in and he was able to power home a header on the far post. Now with a 2 goal lead, Harlow were forging ahead and had Sawbridgeworth on the ropes, but for all their efforts the score remained 2-0 at halftime.

Harlow started the 2nd half in the same dominant vein and had 4 one-on-one chance to go further ahead, but each time they were denied but some part of Keeper James Askews body. Fifty-five minutes were gone and Harlow should have finished the game, but somehow they were still only 2 goals to the good.
Now the "Rocky" comeback that someone couldn't have seen coming (except Neil Johnstone). In the 58th Minute, Sawbridgeworth got their first corner of the half (quote: Neil Johnstone as son Jacob lined up the corner "comeback time now"). Jacobs corner was fumbled by the Harlow keeper and Husan Hussain was on hand to slot the loose ball home at the near post, 2-1, game on!
Goal number 2 follow 5 minutes later, A free kick floated in from the left found the Harlow defence flat-footed, which allow Monty Hussain the space to put the ball past the keeper from 6 yards, comeback now well and truly on as stunned Harlow were left wondering what had just happened.
Roll on 3 minutes, Louis Mackman in the box, back to goal and no threat, push in the back, penalty! Louis steps up and fires an "Exorcet missile" shot straight down the middle. Now Harlow are the ones struggling on the ropes, taking the blows.
4-2 followed 5 minutes later, a long ball into the box was contested by the Harlow keeper and Eren Erecri, both ended up on the floor, Eren spotted the ball had landed at his feet and while lying on his back, flicked the ball into the unguarded net.
Sawbridgeworth finished Harlow off in the 81st Minute, a fantastic ball down the left allowed Husan Hussain to break clear, cut into the box, the keeper went down early, which allow Husan to fire the ball into the bottom right corner. That was the knockout blow. Harlow were down and out and Sawbridgeworth could see out the final 9 minutes with no drama.
An incredible nights football, in which Harlow must have thought was all theirs after the first half of total dominance, but football is a game of two halves!

Team Managers Man of the Match Husan Hussain #WeAreDevelopment

Match Report by
Andrew Askew

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