Harlow Academy 0-2 Halstead Town
By Jay Jaffa at Paringdon Sports Club
HARLOW Academy lost 2-0 to Halstead Town on Wednesday but had goalkeeper Sam Pavey to thank for keeping the scoreline respectable.
Goals for Halstead in either half secured an impressive win over a Harlow side that manager Steve Blaney thought had “turned the corner” after last week’s 2-1 victory over Bishops Stortford.
Blaney had to contend with a couple of absentees from the starting eleven, most notably striker Billy Jones who was set to play for Enfield Town Reserves later that evening, and Jack Leachman who had played for Eton Manor the previous day.
It has been a turbulent season for Harlow following promotion and this was the first game in which they have failed to find the net this season – underlining the importance of Jones and Leachman.
Unfortunately having the second worst defensive record in their league has cost the side recently and were it not for Pavey’s performance, Harlow could be sitting on a record even poorer.
Pavey made a number of crucial saves, particularly in the second half to prevent Halstead running away with the game.
However there was little he could do in the ninth minute as he was left exposed by a ball over the top of the Harlow defence, to which the opposition’s number nine collected and slotted low into the home team’s goal.
Despite the early setback, Harlow did muster a half-chance minutes later as the visiting goalkeeper contrived to spill a relatively tame shot from distance. He did make amends by smothering the rebound though and put paid to Harlow’s best opportunity for an equaliser.
As the first half meandered on, the match began to resemble the changing weather. As the bright sunshine turned to grey clouds and driving rain, so the standard of football declined.
Possession was hard to come by and the rest of the first half was notable only for a booking for Harlow captain Danny Pinnuck after an overly-aggressive swipe at Halstead’s right winger.
Harlow, who were lacking some much needed invention in the final third approached the second half more positively. It is not the first time that Harlow have been trailing at half time and the reaction is always a positive one.
Even though more pressure was exerted on the Halstead back-line, Harlow were sucker-punched in a moment of controversy.
Referee Stuart Cheek had already provided a few moments of dubious decision making, turned down appeals for what seemed a certain Harlow penalty as the lone number nine twisted and turned before being sent to the ground under a clumsy tackle.
Play was waved on however, and the resulting counter attack led to Halstead’s second goal as another through ball split the Harlow defence. This time the visiting team’s number ten showed his composure to tuck the ball away for a 55th minute winner.
Blaney said of the penalty claim: “I’ve seen them given, but overall they deserved to win.
“I’m disappointed. It looked like we’d turned the corner last week after beating Bishops Stortford 2-1.
“That’s the first time we’ve not scored this season.”
Even the introduction of Jones and Leachman failed to provide enough impetus to add a Harlow name to the goalscorers list.
Half-chances went begging but in truth Halstead defended well all game and limited a usually free-scoring home team to efforts from range.
Harlow have two exciting fixtures approaching, starting with a Tottenham community side on Wednesday 7th December and Cambridge United the week after.
