HAWKS boss Danny Chapman will surely step up his hunt for new strikers after his side struggled to pick up three points against fellow struggler's

Redbridge on Saturday. In fact were it not for two fantastic saves from Harlow Town keeper Bertrand Bossu, the hosts could well have been 2-0 down before they got what proved to be the 60th-minute winner through Mitchell Das. Harlow were already without injured strikers Scott Williams and Sam Deaney before Piers Wixon was forced to miss out with a hamstring injury. Harlow were unable to play new signing striker Joel Barnett, snapped up from Ryman League division one north rivals Tilbury, as he was blocked from playing by the FA due to outstanding fines he allegedly owes from playing in the Wakefield & District Football League. Fortunately for Harlow, club secretary Ray Dyer made sure the player had no outstanding bans which was when this sine-die came to light. Back to today's game though and Harlow gave a debut to the re-signed Clark Akers, while Hector Mackie was moved into attack.
Harlow had few other options and could only name two outfield players on the bench.Despite this Harlow went close early on when a lovely ball from Stanley Muguo teed up Das - playing against his old club - on six minutes but the was denied by the advancing Redbridge keeper Dean Neil, although he should have gone round the stopper. Moments later Das was yellow carded for a foul. Akers hit a thunderbolt of an effort from 25 yards out on 13 minutes but this went wide. Akers continued to be influential and his free-kick on 21 minutes was met by Mackie but his goal-bound effort was well blocked by a Redbridge defender. There was a lucky escape for Harlow on 25 minutes. George Monger's free-kick was badly parried by Bossu and Jacob Cleaver should have had an easy tap-in it but somehow blazed it over the bar. At the other end, a Ben Hart free-kick caused problems in the Redbridge box. It appeared to be cleared by a Redbridge defender but no corner was awarded to Harlow leaving player-coach Danny Brown fuming. Harlow's best chance of the first half came on 34 minutes when Hart's excellent right-wing cross was met by Das but Neil made a fantastic point-blank save to stop a certain goal. Close to half-time and Redbridge sub Lee Martin's centre was almost put into his own net by Hawks centre-half Michael Akande.
Five minutes after the break and Monger's speculative 25-yard strike was brilliantly touched onto the right post by Bossu. From the ensuring corner Cleaver's free header failed to find the target. Bossu came to Harlow's rescue again on 55 minutes when Jay Porter seemed certain to score when through on the left side of the box but the Frenchman made a spectacular save pushing the ball onto the crossbar. Das was brought down in the box close to the hour but the referee Olivier Roguez waved away Harlow's appeals for a spot kick. Tom Davie was yellow carded for unsporting behaviour before Harlow finally made the breakthrough on 60 minutes. Clark Akers' right-wing cross was brilliantly headed into the top right corner by Das. Harlow should have made it 2-0 on 77 minutes after sub Jordan Gill's left-wing cross found Mackie in space but he wasted this opportunity. Redbridge continued to press for an equaliser and Akande made a great block from Martin's overhead kick with Bossu in no man's land. Harlow had other chances to make the remaining minutes less tense and on 82 minutes wonderful play from Akers saw him skilfully beat two defenders in the box before chipping the ball up only to see a Redbridge defender clear on the line. The ball came back out to the impressive Hart but he blazed it wide. All in all a disappointing Harlow performance and they were quite fortunate to take all three points.

report courtesy of the Harlow Star