TOWN TAKE A BIG STEP TOWARDS THE PLAY-OFFS IN VICTORY AT HARLOW

In front of 297 people, Barrows Farm largest crowd of the season, Enfield Town looked comfortable throughout the game and ran out 3-1 winners taking a massive step towards qualification for play-off glory.

The Hawks fans deserve special mention as despite being rock bottom of the league and losing yet again they sang and supported their team throughout the game. On this and last Tuesday's effort they are awarded the Cold End's opposing supporters of the year!!! If the league was deceided on fan loyalty and support the Hawks would be up the top for sure. If they are relegated the cold end hopes to see Harlow back soon.

Us Enfield Town fans were spread around the ground and didn't make much noise at all, Perhaps we are saving ourselves for the play-offs!!

Most supporters were surprised to see that the referee today was the Assistant Referee/Linesman who made Sir Alex Ferguson so angry on Saturday when not flagging Didier Drogbar offside in the goal that shouldn't of been given. What a change of scenery for him - Saturday -70,000 +  at Old Tafford in front of television cameras - Monday - 200 + at Harlow in the Ryman League.

He had to make his first important decision in the tenth minute when giving a penalty to Enfield Town. Adam Wallace ran with the ball into the box on the left hand side only to be upended by clumsy looking tackle from Jason Mason. The fact no Harlow player or supporter appealed the decision shows it was a dead-cert penalty.

Liam Hope stepped up and blasted the penalty home to James Hassell's right hand side to make it 1-0 to the Town.

Enfield Town looked the better side after that, if not seriously troubling Hassell in the Harlow goal. Andy Jones in the centre of midfield was afforded losts of space to spread the ball around to Sam Byfield and Jordan Lockie on the wings. Jones himself had a good shot on target which was saved by Hassell from the edge of the box after a Harlow palyer seemed to dwell on the ball for too long and lose it.

Harlow Town had changed their front pairing from last Tuesday night's loss versus Maldon with Tashan Francis-Adeyinka and Ivo Ginev dropping to the bench being replaced by Julian Edwards and Emmanuel Osei.

They got their first effort in after about half and hour when the useful looking Osei shot high over the bar from the edge of the box. Osei got in again a shortwhile after when he beat Kirby in the Town defence running for a throughball, He touched the ball trying to get past the onrushing Rob Blackburne only for the Town keeper to block the ball with his body. The Harlow bench and some supporters appealed loudly that Rob actually controlled the ball with his arm outside of his box, The referee correctly waved away the protests.

There was no other efforts or play of note in a mediocre first half, Harlow's Danny Hayes on the right hand side of midfield showed some good touches and ex Enfield player Lee Portheroe playing at right-back for the Hawks showed he has competed at a higher level with some good play.

Into the second half and Osei had a great chance to make it all square when unluckily his shot across goal from left to right flashed past Blackburne's post.

Richard Morton who was having a great game alongside Jones in centre midfield could of then made the game safe when his goal-bound shot from the edge of the box deflected off Jason Mason's leg and went wide of the post.

It wasn't long before it was 0-2 when Sam Byfield received the ball just inside the box from after Adam Wallace had run into the box from the right hand side. Byfield hit a wonderful shot which went past the unlucky Hassell into the net. Liam Hope then had a shot on the turn on target saved comfortably by Hassell.

Harlow pushed forward and got back into the game when Dave Blower made a late challenge on their substitute Ivo Ginev in the box.  The Hawk's fans set their unique air raid siren off as the resulting penalty kick was well taken by Lee Protheroe to make it 1-2.

The next goal-mouth incident came when Adam Wallace, who was busy all afternoon in a great performance up front for Town, was very unlucky to see his shot on target deflect off Hawk's defender Frank Curley's knee.

Being away from home with only minutes to go at 1-2 usually means a tense nervous finish. This didn't seem the case today as Town always looked in control and made the game safe in the 90th minute when Rudi Hall on as a second half substitute crossed to Wallace to knock the ball past Hassell to make it 1-3.

The cold end believes that on the balance of play Town deserved the win today. It wasn't a classic game of Soccer but at this stage of the season it's the result what counts.  Harlow's centre back Liam Thomas had a good game for the home side with Adam Wallace just pipping Mark Kirby and Richard Morton to the cold end's Enfield Town man of the match. Gunz made two of the goals (technically as he was fouled for the penalty to be given) and scored one leading the line in a hard working impressive performance. Morton and Kirby win so many headers during games it seems impossible to keep count.

Only VCD Athletic in sixth place and seventh placed Heybridge Swifts can now catch Town currently in fifth place. It looks even more positive when VCD will have to overcome a +22 goal difference as they can only equal our points total of 71 and the Swifts will have to win all their remaining matches which includes a home game versus Concord Rangers on Saturday.

HARLOW TOWN
James Hassell, Lee Portheroe. Spencer Knight, Frank Curley, Liam Thomas, Sean Gliddon (Ivo Ginev), Danny Hayes, Jason Mason, Julian Edwards, Emmanuel Osei (Adriano Lawson), Reece Dobson (Francis).
subs not used - Sam Weaver and Ashley Harris

ENFIELD TOWN
Rob Blackburne, Dave Blower, Michael Bardle, Craig McKay, Mark Kirby, Richard Morton, Jordon Lockie (Ben Hammond), Andy Jones, Liam Hope (Rudi Hall), Adam Wallace, Sam Byfield (Fabio Valenti).
subs not used -Darryl Ellams, Paul Marks.