(a) Brentwood Town

Match report and photos from Hitchin Town friendly

Match report and photos from Southend United XI friendly

Tough start as Ryman fixtures are announced

BRENTWOOD TOWN 2,

HARLOW TOWN 3

Pre-season friendly, 09/08/08

Match Report by BILLY SHAW

Photography by TONY FOWLES & DENISE JEFFERY

HARLOW finally laid the foundations on which to build their 2008/09 campaign with a solid pre-season victory over Brentwood Town.

Goals from Danny Green and James Bunn, either side of a Jamie Richards penalty, helped Ryan Kirby’s men get one over on the side that bedeviled them last season, knocking them out of both the FA Cup and FA Trophy.

Former Canvey Island midfielders Clyde Roberts and Daniel Francis both impressed on their debuts, while reserve team player Paul Kear put on a solid performance at centre-back.

And with James Hasell rested after incurring a slight neck injury in training and Michael Dumoulin absent, Harlow called on Jason Hardy to keep goal, following the youngster’s first spell with the club during 2005/06.

But it was his opposite number who parried Jamie Richards’ right-footed shot loose inside his own six-yard box on eight minutes, with Danny Green charging in to bundle home Harlow’s opener at the near post.

Hardy made a fine save three minutes later, diving to pluck the ball out of the air after Gareth Street powered a header towards the top corner.

The visitors increased their lead on 16 minutes when skipper James Bunn was brought down in the area by Chris Bourne after midfield dynamo Leon Lalite fed the frontman a through pass.

Jamie Richards stepped up to send keeper Phil Skelton the wrong way and open his Harlow account.

A dangerous ball across the face of goal from Brentwood’s Chris Bourne wasn’t met with any meaningful contact on 20 minutes, before the Hawks’ two debutants linked up for their side’s next attack.

Daniel Francis headed down into the path of midfield colleague Clyde Roberts, whose dipping right-footed volley went just wide of Skelton’s right-hand post on 34 minutes.

Danny Green then produced a low save from the home goalie shortly before the interval.

Skelton’s indecisiveness cost him dear five minutes after the restart, as he took too long over his clearance, with Bunn charging the ball down as a result, before rounding the retreating keeper and shooting into an empty net.

Nicky Simmons drove a long-range shot wide at the other end a minute later, before the hosts pulled a goal back on 63 minutes.

A curling ball down the right side of the field from Donovan Wilson found its way round the Hawks’ line of defence, with ex-Harlow striker Sammy Winston pouncing on the ball before running on and firing decisively past Hardy.

James Bunn stole in behind the Brentwood back line with a quarter of an hour remaining, but his square pass to Jamie Richards was intercepted and cleared.

Hawks substitute Jordan Fowler took advantage of a slip in midfield to feed Richards seven minutes later, but after the forward got the ball onto his left foot, his low shot was well saved by Skelton.

Danny Glozier made for a nervy ending to a much improved display from Ryan Kirby’s charges when he curled a free kick into an unguarded near side of the goal on 85 minutes, after Clark Akers had felled Chris Bourne just outside the area.

Harlow Tn: Jason Hardy, Mark Taylor (sub: Harrison Tague, 68), Shaun Gliddon, Danny Chapman, Paul Kear, Clyde Roberts, Leon Lalite (sub: Jordan Fowler, 45), Daniel Francis (sub: Lewis Baker, 80), Jamie Richards, James Bunn, Danny Green (sub: Clark Akers, 45). Sub not used: Ryan Kirby.