DANNY Chapman’s Harlow Town have a huge battle ahead to win the Ryman division one north title – after a 3-0 home loss against leaders Leiston this afternoon (Saturday January 28).
It was a hugely flattering result for the Suffolk side – the first team to win at Barrows Farm in the league since October – who are now 12 points clear of Harlow, who were reduced to 10 men.
Leading only 1-0 at the break, Leiston took full advantage when referee Peter Georgiou sent off Hawks centre-half Ryan Kirby on 58 minutes. He was yellow carded for a foul on Leiston winger Patrick Brothers.
Having already picked up a silly booking in the first half, from which former Hawks striker Rhys Henry scored a freak goal, Kirby was dismissed – and with him went Harlow’s chance of victory.
Harlow gave a home debut to ex-Orient player John Martin in midfield.
Leiston looked strong in the opening period and went in front on 15 minutes.
Kirby was having a tough time against Leiston’s hulk of a striker Nathan Stone and needlessly gave away a free-kick on the left and picked up a rather harsh yellow card considering it was his first foul.
This would have dire consequences later.
Henry – who only left Harlow in the autumn – was attempting to find the far post with the set-piece but the ball was missed by everyone and sailed into the top right corner.
Harlow finally got a grip on the game after that.
A quick break saw Piers Wixon play in Michael Deane, but his shot from inside the box was superbly tipped away by Leiston keeper Louis Johnson on 20 minutes.
Harlow’s best chance came on 32 minutes as substitute James Peagram had a shot from inside the box which hit the left post. The ball rebounded but Wixon could not poke it in.
A minute later a long-range dipping strike from Luke Marshall was brilliantly tipped away by Johnson.
Leiston's Stuart Boardley nearly turned the ball into own net a few minutes later, while Peagram teed up Wixon who was desperately unlucky with a shot from the edge of the box which flew a couple of feet wide of the right post.
The first half was really a tale of two quarters.
The dismissal after the break changed everything, but Harlow will rue their failure to at least go into half-time level.
Kirby had upended Patrick Brothers wide on the left.
Leiston made it 2-0 on 63 minutes when a headed through ball from Joe Jefford caught the hosts napping and Stone nipped through, surged into the box and slipped the ball under Hawks keeper Bert Bossu, who was badly positioned.
Henry scored his second and Leiston's third on 79 minutes. The extra man proved the difference and he was unmarked in the box and slotted a shot across goal and into the bottom right corner.
Shame he couldn’t finish like that when he was in a Harlow shirt earlier this season!
Leiston's Neil Calver saw red after a fracas with Hawks sub Ryan Maxwell on 89 minutes.
This was another poor decision by Mr Georgiou, who didn’t have the best of games.
The result was revenge for Leiston who lost 4-1 at home to Harlow in the corresponding fixture. It left Harlow looking at the play-offs for their best chance of going up.
HARLOWTN: Bossu 6, Barnard 4, Brown 6, Haverson 6, Kirby 6 (RED CARD 58), Bruno 6, Marshall 6, Martin 5, Wixon 6, Taylor 6, Deane 5. Subs: Smith, Peagram, Maxwell, Wheeler, Mann.
