Thurlow Nunn First Division South, Friday 22nd December
My penultimate match before Christmas saw me head over to Parkside for the first time this season (yes has been long overdue) to watch a Thurlow Nunn First Division South contest between May & Baker and Harlow Town.
Bakers have been under new stewardship this season in the shape of previous reserve team boss Jimmy Donald, and it's been a mixed campaign thus far for them, they sat in fourteenth spot at kick and only five points above the drop zone, whereas for Harlow, who were back after a season out of football following their resignation from Step Three football (I think!!!) two seasons ago due to pitch issues at their Harlow Arena ground were right in the mix for instant promotion to Step Five football as they look to try and get back to where they once were.
Harlow sat in fifth spot, the final play off spot, although their ambition is to win the division of course and they were eight points behind leaders Clapton Community so needed all three points in this one of course, as did Bakers for differing reasons and who knows, a decent run in the new year could see them maybe have play off ambitions themselves, although that was a tall order looking at the table right now.
Their immediate concern was trying to pull away from those relegation places and put further daylight between them and those down their right now, but it was the visitors who had all the early running and it was no surprise when they edged in front after twelve minutes when Ishaq Ameen was played in on goal and he produced a lovely lofted effort beyond Jack Riddell.
Harlow continued to have most of the play but they were unable to build on that early lead, they had chances to go further ahead but could not capitalise and they were made to pay for this this in first half stoppage time when Bakers, who had barely threatened thus far, won a free kick outside the box, and Gabriel Odili curled a delightful effort into the far corner, leaving keeper James Pellin routed to the spot, and it meant the sides went into the break all square.
That late first half leveller seemed to galvanize the hosts who were much more of a threat in the second period, and just beyond the hour mark they had turned this one around when Oliver Beadle struck a lovely long range effort into the far corner, Pellin got a big hand to it but could not keep it out, and now Harlow were the ones chasing this contest.
The visitors though fought back and levelled with ten of the ninety to go after Ameen outmuscled his marker to prod an effort beyond Riddell, the hosts would have been disappointed in how they conceded that goal, but they then had an immediate chance to go back in front again when Idris Aminu was felled inside the box for a Baker penalty, but after Odili had taken the ball of Bobby Breen, who looked like he was going to take the spot kick, Odili saw his penalty saved by Pellin, meaning the game remained all square.
A few stoppages in the second half meant a big chunk of stoppage time was added at the end of the contest, and eight minutes into that came the dramatic conclusion as Harlow found a winner, a ball into the box found it's way through to full back Alex Luque who then drove an effort back across goal and into the far corner, sending him, his teammates and their fans behind that goal into raptures, it had been a rollercoaster of a ride for sure, but they found a way to get those three points and take them up a a place to fourth.
It was gutting for the hosts however who thought they were at least going to get a point from this dramatic contest, that penalty miss at 2-2 certainly was a big moment in the game, and defeat so late on will hurt for sure, they remain fourteenth and five points above the drop zone and will hope that results go their way at the weekend, it was a very enjoyable watch though I must say, and well done to the visitors on their success.
Full time May & Baker 2 Harlow Town 3
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