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ST ALBANS CITY 0,

HARLOW TOWN 0

FA Cup, second qualifying round 27/09/08

Match Report by BILLY SHAW

Photography by TONY FOWLES

HARLOW Town kept themselves in the FA Cup by holding Blue Square South side St Albans City to a goalless draw at Clarence Park.

The Hawks, who made one change to the starting line-up with the replacement of Shaun Gliddon with Danny Green on the left, managed to shut up shop and force a Tuesday night replay at Barrows Farm.

The first shot went Harlow’s way in the third minute when Danny Green poked a right-footed effort at the keeper after strike partners Jamie Richards and Rhys Henry juggled the ball at the edge of the area.

Alex Bailey cut into the middle and unleashed a fierce shot which forced Hawks custodian James Hasell to push the ball over the bar with a reflex save four minutes later.

Mark Taylor’s free kick went behind for a goal kick after clipping the top of the St Albans wall, following lively Green’s tumble which won the set piece in the 13th minute.

As the Blue Square South team went forward again, Danny Chapman made a great sliding challenge to block Lee Clarke’s shot with his legs, before St Albans were forced to replace Rod Hicks after a nasty clash with Leon Lalite which left the St Albans midfielder in need of physio attention.

Paul Hakim’s shot took a touch off defender Paul Kear but flew wide of Hasell’s post on 41 minutes, before player-boss Ryan Kirby flew in with a heroic sliding tackle to block Jonathan Hunt at close range shortly before half-time.

Near the start of a second half which included St Albans being refused a penalty shout by the referee after a challenge by Beckett Hollenbach, Hasell was called into action again to make a superb diving save.

After Mark Taylor lost possession, Jonathan Hunt collected the ball and exchanged passes with James Quilter, before his strong drive was saved by Hasell to his right on 53 minutes.

City stopper Paul Bastock had to be alert to palm a sharp shot from Rhys Henry on the hour, while Hakim again produced a save from Hasell.

In the latter stages of the second half, the visiting Hawks, supported by an exceptionally passionate band of balloon-clad fans, began to take control.

Danny Green finished his extended solo run by lifting his shot just wide in the 64th minute, before again causing the hosts problems with a surging run down the left, forcing keeper Bastock to snatch his cross away from the prowling Jamie Richards.

A similar situation, with Richards being denied a meeting with a deep Green cross by the keeper, occurred four minutes later, before Henry blasted way over the bar after Richards’ lay-off in the 72nd minute.

Substitute Clydie Roberts ran on but cued his shot wide, before City’s Lee Clarke also found the wrong side of the post at the other end with a quarter of an hour to go.

Following a couple of nerve-jangling moments for Harlow, a double substitution with nine minutes left gave Ryan Kirby’s men the energy they needed to see out the latter stages of the game.

A poor Hunt free kick flew straight into Hasell’s grasp a minute into stoppage time as the visitors forced a replay.

Harlow Tn: James Hasell, Mark Taylor, Beckett Hollenbach, Danny Chapman, Paul Kear, Ryan Kirby (sub: Clydie Roberts, 70), Leon Lalite, Jordan Fowler (sub: Clark Akers, 81), Jamie Richards, Rhys Henry (sub: Tashan Adeyinka, 81), Danny Green. Subs not used: Shaun Gliddon, Kevin Warren, Michael Dumoulin (GK).