Harlow Town 3-1 Great Wakering Rovers

From the Harlow Arena

Ryman One North

GREAT Wakering Rovers couldn't make it three wins on the spin as they fell to play-off powerhouses Harlow Town.

Wakering’s league status had been secured last weekend without kicking a ball, with Gary Ansell’s men returning to action on the artificial surface at Harlow.

Harlow were in a direct battle with Thurrock and Cray Wanderers for second-place in the standings, and they needed a win to keep up that pressure.

It took 26 minutes for the first goal of the afternoon to come, and there was more than a touch of fortune about it.

Joe Benjamin floated an effort at goal and it sailed over the despairing Adam Seal and into the net, with the Harlow forward’s effort looking distinctly like a cross.

One become two within the space of 60 seconds. A Jared Small cross was not dealt with and the unfortunate Ellis Sands knocked the ball into his own net.

The third goal didn’t come until 15 minutes from the end of the clash, with Lewis Parkins rolling the ball past the onrushing Seal.

There was to be a moment to cheer for the away side, as substitute Dan Gilchrist lobbed a consolation to make it 3-1, but that was as good as it got for Wakering.

Great Wakering Rovers: Seal, Sands, Kent, Hilder, Sparrow, Vaughan, Johnson, Bradley, Gordon, Nash (Gilchrist), Cleaver (Toussaint)