Wood fall prey to Hawks
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| Leon Archer: pic by John D. Gill |
Harlow Town 2 Boreham Wood 1 . . .
Ryman League Premier Division . . .
A third away defeat in succession against fellow strugglers leaves Wood's future in the Premier Division in disarray.
After going ahead through Leon Archer in the first half, Wood fell to two fortunate retaliatory second-half strikes from the Hawks. The first needed a wicked deflection to beat a much-improved Shane Herbert, deputising for Noel Imber in the Wood goal. The second, and killer goal, was borne out of a farcical refereeing decision that yet again typifies both the frailty and cruelty of football.This was a hard-fought contest between two well-matched sides, yet for the first half hour Harlow played with a fluidity and togetherness that one would expect from a settled squad.
They created numerous chances, with Mark Taylor and Kenny Davis delivering numerous telling crosses from the goalline, as Wood were panicked into defending deeply.
Rhys Henry, a teenage striker on loan from Southend United, provided a spark in front of goal with his intelligent movement that complimented the more familiar steadfastness of ex-Wood striker James Bunn.
George Borg's men weathered the storm, aided by a solid performance from the returning Joe Reynolds in the centre of the park, allowing Archer to set his sights on the target at the other end. He had two fine opportunities to open the scoring. Slipped through down the left by Chris Bangura, he tried to shift the ball on to his favoured right foot and, in doing so, allowed Beckett Hollenbach time to execute a fine block on the line with keeper James Hasell already beaten.
Minutes later, Bangura again released Archer, who tore through a stumbling Hawks defence before striking the side netting.
Then, with 39 minutes played and Archer growing in stature, he latched on to a long clearance and showed a turn of pace that left his marker treading water. This time Archer danced round Hasell to single-handedly send waves of hope through a side so desperate for victory, finding the net for the opening goal.
Chris Watters made way for Ola Williams soon after the interval, with Steve Wales switching to the left flank, as Wood looked to secure the all-important second goal. However, their plans were thwarted when Danny Green hit a speculative shot from the edge of the area that squirmed off the body of Marvin Samuel, leaving Herbert with no chance from the wicked deflection, after 55 minutes.
Herbert maintained parity with a superb reaction save, diving low to his left to palm away a goalbound glancing header from Kenny Davis.
The referee then made an inexcusable mistake, falling for Henry's theatrical dive when no contact with the player was evident, gifting Harlow a free-kick 20 yards from goal on the right. Taylor delivered an inch-perfect effort that curled inches wide of the wall, with Herbert's commendable effort failing to prevent the ball creeping between outstretched arm and post.
Thereafter a stalemate ensued, with the clock ticking away in the home side's favour.
The result sees Harlow climb above Wood, who are now in 16th spot, two points above the drop zone, with just seven matches left.
WOOD: Herbert, Reynolds (Armstrong 79), Barber, Adedeji, Fenton, Bangura, Wales, Samuel, Thomas, Archer, Watters (Williams 48). Subs not used: Peddie, Johnson, Lewis.
JOHN MEAD
7:41am Wednesday 19th March 2008
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