Harlow Hill Res 0 - 2 Knaresborough Town Res
Harlow Hill Res 1 - 3 Ripon City A
Harlow Hill Res 1 - 3 Sherwood Res
Harlow Hill Res 2 - 1 Spa Athletic Res
Harlow welcomed Spa to the Oatlands in their second meeting this season. Spa started brightly, within seconds of kick-off Kilroy had a great chance to put Spa ahead when he cut inside from the left only to put his shot just wide. But it wasn't long before Spa took the lead when they broke the offside trap to coolly slot home past Lazzari. Harlow were under pressure for most of the first half with Spa trying to find the second goal which never came. Then a few minutes before half time Harlow drew level with their best move of the half, some nice slick passing of the ball came to Hartley, who put a great ball into Story, who stayed composed to lob the Spa keeper.
The second half was a role reversal and Harlow piled on the pressure, then 20 minutes in Hartley picked up the ball on the right, played the ball into Story, who with his back to goal skillfully turned and struck the ball into the bottom corner. Spa did create a couple of chances but couldn't test the keeper so Harlow came away with all three points.
Harlow Hill Res 4 - 0 Clifford
Harlow kept the pressure on the pack chasing a promotion place with a convincing home win over Clifford. Right from the start Harlow looked comfortable but neither keeper was tested in the early exchanges. Harlow took the lead after about half an hour when Mark Hartley latched on to a through ball from David Jones before looping the ball over the keeper whilst under pressure from the desperate Clifford defender. Clifford were still claiming Hartley’s goal was offside when Michael Recchia picked the ball up in the centre of the midfield before riding 4 challenges and smashing the ball low to the keepers left from 25 yards and that’s how the score stayed until half time. The second half began in the same way as the first had finished with Harlow controlling possession and winning the tackles. On about the hour mark Harlow got the all important third goal to put the match beyond Clifford when Chris Story reacted first to read Recchia winning a header before control the ball with his left foot to go round the advancing Goalkeeper before slotting it into the net with his right. Story then almost turned provider when he took the ball down on his chest before volleying the ball into Mark Hartley’s run only for Hartley to fire wide. Five minutes later though he found himself in the same position and made no mistake in smashing it passed the keeper to make it 4-0, a scoreline that didn’t flatter the home side. Substitute Shane Hand missed a glorious chance to score his first goal for the club but was denied by the goalkeeper after he latched onto a Story though ball. All in all a very good performance by Harlow who, if they show the same passion and composure in every game from now until the end of the season, could see the dream of promotion become a reality.
Spa Athletic Res 0 - 0 Harlow Hill Res
Spa Reserves and Harlow Reserves played out a drab goalless draw that nearly sent the few supporters who had braved the elements to sleep. The game should never have been on with the pitch a mud bath and that was shown by the lack of creative flair by either team throughout the 90mins. Harlow had to play most of the game with pretty much 10 men as Mark Hartley strained his hamstring and could barely move but with no substitutes being available he had to continue just to make up the numbers. Spa had the best chances but due to a combination of the bad pitch conditions, good goalkeeping and defending by Harlow and poor composure in front of goal they were unable to make them pay. Harlow will come away from this game the happier of the two sides and they will be looking on improving on their point when the teams meet again in a couple of weeks.
Silsden 3 - 6 Harlow Hill Res
Harlow travelled to top of the league Silsden who were unbeaten in the league so far. Silsden started better than Harlow taking the lead with some good play down the right. That was the kick-start Harlow needed, with four goals in half an hour. Two came from Pears, 1 for Hartley and an own goal. Silsden started the second half as the better side again and had clawed one back within 10 mins, but again Harlow responded well with a headed goal from Pears to complete his hat-trick, and a strike from Hartley made it 6 - 2 to Harlow. Silsden then put pressure on Harlow for the remainder of the half, hitting the post numerous times and eventually getting a third. Silsden will feel they could have won with the chances they had but it was Harlow who took all 3 points away from Silsden, the only team to do so this season. Knaresborough Celtic 7 - 1 Harlow Hill Res Harlow showed no passion, no fight and no commitment in a game where Knaresborough Celtic brought the Harlow Reserves players crashing down to earth after their 100% cup record was shattered. Harlow looked unable to cope with the Knaresborough attacking players slick passing from the first whistle and the only shock of the first half was that the score was only 1-0 at half time. The second half went from bad to worse for Harlow as Celtic up the pace again and completely over-ran the midfield to go into a 7-0 lead, Mark Hartley added a consolation goal towards the end of the game but it was far too little too late. So a 7-1 defeat for Harlow who had been on a decent record of only losing 1 of their last 11 games before this match. If they are to lift themselves from this they are going to have to start passing the ball around and also putting in tackles and upping the work rate dramatically otherwise they won’t be picking up many points from now until the end of the season. Clifford 3 - 3 Harlow Hill Res Harlow Hill Reserves travelled to Clifford, who so far had only lost one league game this season. Harlow started brightly again and within ten mins, Paul Rea pumped a long ball into the Clifford box and with Chris Story challenging the keeper, the ball went over the keeper to make it 1 - 0 to Harlow. Harlow then piled on the pressure and within another 10 mins were 2 - 0 up when Recchia drilled-in a corner to the near post and Danny Waters headed it home. Harlow kept up the pressure creating a few half chances but could not increase their lead. Then 5 mins before half time Clifford broke past the Harlow defense and the Clifford striker drove into the box only to be brought down by the keeper Lazzari, for a penalty which the Clifford player coolly slotted home.The second half saw Harlow first out of the blocks again and within 10 mins they increased their lead to 3 -1 when Hartley pulled the ball back from the bi-line and Simon Sunley, coolly slotted it into the top corner. The tide then turned for Harlow when a Clifford player broke down the left hand side and pumped a long ball into the box which bounced in front of the keeper, Lazzari who then made a disastorous mistake and the ball hit the underside of the bar and into the net. Clifford then started to put some pressure on Harlow and with 10 mins to go Clifford were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box. The Clifford player struck the free kick well and it beat Lazzari down to his right to make the score 3 - 3. Harlow will definitely feel this was 2 points dropped. Harlow Hill 2 - 1 Pannal Sports Res Harlow Hill Reserves hosted Pannal Sports Res in the Hulme Cup. Harlow started well creating a couple of early half chances but to no avail.Then 10 mins in, Waters drove to the edge of the box and struck a shot which beat the keeper at his near post. Pannal then pinned Harlow back for the next 15 mins, piling on the pressure to find the equaliser which came 10 mins before half-time. The Pannal player crossed from the far side which looped over the keeper for their striker to tap home to make it 1-1 at half-time.The second half was a bit scrappy for the majority of it until Harlow got a corner with 15 mins to go. The ball was whipped-in, only for a Pannal defender to clear it to the penalty spot where Andy Story lashed home an unstoppable shot into the top corner. Pannal made it hard for us in the last 15 mins, Lazzari pulled off a good save and the defence stayed strong to take us into the next round of the cup. Otley Town B 2 - 3 Harlow Hill Res Harlow Hill Reserves travelled to Otley Town B, determined to overturn their 3 – 0 defeat a couple of weeks earlier. It didn’t quite go according to plan, as 15 minutes into the match the Otley left-back overlapped to get to the by-line and pull the ball back for an unmarked tap in. This seemed to lift Harlow, and it didn’t take them long to reply, when Chris Story put a ball into Shane Hand unmarked in the box, who’s shot was going for a throw until it hit an Otley player and ended up in the back of the net. Otley came at us again. Their second goal coming from an error from the Keeper who called for it but didn’t get there and the Otley player slotted home just before half time. The second half was a different story, Harlow came out fighting and it didn’t take long for the equaliser. Chris story latched onto a nice pass from Mark Hartley, rounded the keeper and coolly slotted it home. As Harlow pilled on the pressure another great pass from Hartley to Story saw him slot home the winner. Otley did come at Harlow for the last 15 minutes, but good defending and an excellent save from keeper Anthony Lazzari saw Harlow hold on to all 3 points. Boroughbridge A 3 - 3 Harlow Hill Res (1 - 3 on pens) Harlow Hill travelled to Boroughbridge to face them in for the fourth side this season having drawn twice in the league and already knocked them out of a cup. In game that was spoilt by poor refereeing decisions there were still 6 goals and a penalty shoot out. Harlow Hill Res 0 - 3 Otley Town B Boroughbridge A 1 - 1 Harlow Hill Res Harlow Hill Reserves travelled to Boroughbridge ‘A’ for the 3rd meeting between the teams so far this season and Harlow were looking to improve on the draw the teams played out in the home fixture last month despite their domination. Harlow Hill Res 5 - 0 Kirkby Malzeard Res Harlow Hill Reserves hosted bottom of the league Kirby Malzeard reserves looking to maintain their impressive form over the past few games. Harlow started off well by keeping the ball but never managing to make the breakthrough, in fact it was the visitors who had the first opportunity when Harlow keeper Ant Lazzari came out to smother the ball at a Kirby strikers feet but only managing to divert it into another of the Kirby attackers who smashed it against the crossbar with the goal at his mercy. Harlow heeded the warning and it was them who took the lead when a Paul Rea cross from the left was fumbled by the Kirby keeper and Jamie Ord put the ball into the net to continue his fine run in front of goal. Harlow then had a goal disallowed when Chris Story flicked on to Bapinder Powar who slotted home only to be denied by the referee’s whistle who adjudged Story to be offside. Harlow remained comfortable but were unable to add to their tally so the score stayed at 1-0 at half time. Harlow began the second half with much more conviction and purpose than the first and they looked the most likely to get the all important second goal and so it was proved when new signing James Hattee did some good work down the right before delivering the ball into the box to be met my Story who controlled with his left foot before slotting it past the keeper at the near post with his right. After this goal Harlow grew even more in confidence and they just kept pushing forward in search of more goals and that game when Hattee played the ball to Danny Waters who finished for his first goal of the season. The fouth had more than a hint of good fortune in it was a deserved goal for debutant Hattee who hit a shot from just inside the right of the area and it took a deflection which wrong footed the keeper and into the net. Harlow wrapped things up with the fifth and final goal of the game when right back Fran Wilson drilled a cross into the box that Waters struck first time with an unstoppable shot into the near post. Boroughbridge A 1 - 2 Harlow Hill Res Harlow Hill Res 5 - 2 Wigton Moor Harlow Hill Reserves started strongly with plenty of conviction in what looked a very high tempo game from the off. Although both teams were moving the ball swiftly in possession it was Harlow that enjoyed the lion share of the pressure. They broke the deadlock when Chris Story struck from 25 yards, after Paul Rea picked up a poor clearance by the Wigton keeper. Some controversy surrounded the goal as a Wigton defender was down with an injury, however, the referee elected to play on as the new rules clearly state. Harlow’s second goal came when Danny Waters neatly threaded the ball through for Story to cut across both the defender and the keeper to calmly slot the ball into the bottom corner. Wigton did manage to claw back a goal on the stroke of half time via a penalty that cruelly bobbled over Lazarri in goal. The second half begun much quieter than the first and Wigton started to make their presence known by applying more pressure on the Harlow goal. However, Harlow took a two goal lead when Bapindar Power benefited from a Fran Wilson goal kick to creep in behind the defence and nudge the ball past the keeper. The Wigton players were left reeling unaware that a player can’t be offside from a goal kick. Wigton showed determination to score a second when their Jermaine Beckford looking striker split the otherwise excellent defence of Danny Currie and Michael Rechia to place the ball past Lazarri. Harlow then added a fourth when Simon Sunley whipped in a corner for Paul O’Reilly to head home and the fifth came when the Wigton keeper left his area only to clear the ball straight to Power who took advantage of the keeper’s poor positioning to lob the ball home sublimely from 40 yards. Harlow Hill Res 2 - 1 Beckwithshaw Res Beckwithshaw Res 2 - 1 Harlow Hill Res Harlow Hill Reserves travelled to Beckwithshaw in search of their first win of the season having only two points to show from their first three games despite dominating all of them. Harlow had many chances in the first half with the majority of them falling to Danny Waters who came close on a number of occasions without testing the keeper. His best chance happened when Chris Story got behind the Beckwithshaw defence and passed the ball across the goal only for Waters to put it over the bar from close range. Beckwithshaw made the break through with pretty much their first attack of the match, Harlow defender Danny Currie slipped and the Beckwithshaw forward had all the time in the world to slide it across to his team mate who gratefully slid it into the net. So the advantage was with the home team and that is how it stayed until half time. Harlow continued to dominate the second half but it was Beckwithshaw who extended their lead when the Harlow players stopped as the ball had appeared to go off the pitch for a throw in on the halfway line, the referee said play on and Beckwithshaw continued forward and their Striker Dan Skelton shot from 25 yards with his left foot that found the net despite the Harlow keeper getting a had to it. Harlow did manage to get a goal back when it was Beckwithshaw’s turn to feel aggrieved when they felt the throw in should have one their way but as they stopped Story took a quick throw to new signing Paul O’Reilly who lofted the ball over a defenders head and into the path of substitute Dave Simon who went on to slot the ball coolly past the keeper, so 2-1 and Harlow back in the game with 10 minutes to go. They failed to make the break through even though they were given a helping hand when there was three minutes left on the clock and the Beckwithshaw captain reacted badly following a late challenge and punched Dave Simon in the side of the head and the referee rightly showed him the red card. So yet again Harlow fail to win despite dominating a game, all they need is a bit of luck and to not let their heads go down and they will climb the table soon if they carry on to play the way they are doing. Harlow Hill Res 0 - 0 Boroughbridge A Harlow Hill Reserves hosted Boroughbridge ‘A’ still looking for their first league win of the season and on the balance of play will be disappointed that it hasn’t come. Harlow started off the brighter of the two teams a trait that has been new to their play in the past couple of games. They had their first golden opportunity to take the lead when Chris Story received the ball on the right and curled an inch perfect cross into the six yard box only to see Jamie Ord glance his header wide. Shane then had their next chance when Danny Waters picked the ball up on the half way line and threaded the ball through to him and as he hit it from outside the box the ‘Bridge keeper pulled off a fantastic save. It was Boroughbridge who then squandered a good chance when their number ten got behind the Harlow defence only to fire over the bar. So the game remained goal-less at half time. The second half continued in the same with both sides missing chances, with both sides number tens missing the best of them. Harlow’s number ten Chris Story had the best chance of the match fifteen minutes from time when Shane Hand, who had caused ‘Bridge problems all game, burst down the right and beat his man before putting the ball across the six yard box for what should have been a simple tap in even with the ball being slightly behind him, he hooked his foot round it only to see the ball bounce off his shin and go agonisingly over the bar. So the game finished 0-0, although the story could have been so different had the opposing number tens been able to finish off their chances. Another positive performance though from Harlow who surely can’t be far away from picking up there first win of the season and once that comes it looks like a good run could be on the cards. Sherwood Res 1 - 1 Harlow Hill Res Harlow Hill Reserves made the short trip down Knaresborough road to face Sherwood reserves in their first away game of the season and were left disappointed to only come away with a point. In a first half of limited chances Harlow were perhaps the better side but were unable to make their possession count in the final third and were limited to mainly shots from distance. The best chance Harlow had was when Chris Story read Steve Mcarthey’s back pass to his keeper only to be stopped by the refs whistle who brought the play back for an earlier dubious foul. So the teams went in at half time unable to break the deadlock. The second half began much the same as the first but with both sides forced into changes due to injuries neither team managed to gain any momentum. It was Sherwood who struck first on the hour mark when Nigel Green handled the ball from a corner after the Harlow defence failed to clear and as the defence stopped expecting the ref’s whistle that didn’t come Green slotted home the ball into the corner of the net. Their lead only lasted for ten minutes though as Harlow applied the pressure and won a corner. Sherwood only managed to partially clear and Lee Wilkinson picked up the loose ball and delivered with his left foot and delivered a deep cross that found Danny Currie unmarked at the far post and he managed to loop his header back across the keeper for the equaliser. Harlow had chances to win the game but Sherwood keeper Giles Holdsworth pulled off some good saves to keep Harlow at bay. So the match finished 1-1 but another performance that Harlow should have confidence that if they keep the defence as solid as this game, keep their quick passing going forward and get a little bit more luck they wont have to wait to long before they record their first win of the season. Harlow Hill Res 3 - 4 Burley Trojans Res Harlow Hill Reserves began their League Campaign with a home tie against Burley Trojan Reserves that served up 7 goals for the supporters.
Boroughbridge looked the brighter start from the off clearly wanting to overturn their last cup result against Harlow, it was them who went into a 2-0 lead and looked good for continuing and moving forward from there. Harlow though managed to pull a goal back before half time when Danny Waters cut in from the left before putting the ball through to captain Nick Smith who rounded the keeper and slotted the ball home with his left foot. The score remained at 2-1 at half time.
Harlow came out and attacked right from the start of the second half without really creating any clear goal scoring opportunities, they finally did get the equaliser when Fran Wilson crossed from the right and Paul O’Reilly looped his header over the keeper to draw the tie level. There was no further scoring so the tie went into extra time.
Boroughbridge looked like they had won the tie when they were awarded a very dubious free kick which was forced over the line by the Burley number 7 in the first half of extra time
In a game that was not for the neutral the first half was dull with most of the play being in the centre of the midfield and no clear goal scoring opportunities arose.
The second half was much the same and all the goal action happened within a minute as both teams scored. Harlow scored first when Michael Recchia did some good work down the left hand side to beat his man before looking up and spotting substitute Matty Roebuck unmarked in the box whose shot took a deflection before finding the net. Boroughbridge scored straight from the kick off when a hopeful long ball went over full back Paul Rea’s head before the ‘Bridge striker ran onto the loose ball to beat keeper Tony Diver at his near post.
The teams then played out the final few minutes almost at a walking pace. So Harlow remain unbeaten against Boroughbridge this season with the cup game against them coming up in a few weeks
It was the away side who looked the brighter perhaps due to a lot of the players having already played in the game before for Burley first team against Harlow first team. They took the lead early on when Harlows defence failed to clear their lines and the Burley number four hit a dipping volley from the edge of the box into the bottom corner of the net leaving keeper Ant Lazzari no chance.
Burley then doubled their lead when a long ball caught the Harlow back four trying to play offside but the linesman kept his flag down as the Burley striker ran down the right before laying it across the goal for an easy tap in for his unmarked team mate.
Having had most of the play Harlow then pulled a goal back when Danny Waters’ corner was bundled over the line by captain Nick Smith to make it 2-1. Despite Harlow dominating possession they failed to create any clear-cut chances and Burley kept their lead until half time.
It was Harlow who started the second half the brighter of the two times and this time managed to make their possession pay when good determined work by Fran Wilson down the right caused the Burley defence to panic and as the ball came inside their number five tried to head the ball back to the keeper in order to calm things down but Chris Story read his intentions and nipped in to strike it past the keeper at his near post to give Harlow a much deserved equaliser.
Harlow again continued to dominate but were unsuccessful in making another break through and it was Burley who took the lead again when Harlow conceded a sloppy free-kick on the left corner of the box and the Burley right winger stepped up and put into the far top corner.
Harlow kept pushing forward in search of another equaliser with Jamie Ord squandering their best chance when he read Chris Story’s flick on only to put it wide of the keeper’s right hand post.
With five minutes left on the clock Harlow were awarded a free kick just inside the Burley half and Nick Smith delivered a good ball into the box and Paul Rea lost his man before heading the ball into the bottom corner of the net.
Harlow looked more thank good for a point as the final whistle approached but with two minutes left on the clock Fran Wilson completely missed his kick and the ball was played into the area from the left for two Burley strikers to fight over who was going to bobble it over the line for the winner.
So the game finished 4-3 to the visitors but all in all a good performance from Harlow who can take a lot of positives from their performance and if he the silly mistakes are cut out they will win more games than they lose this season.