LOWESTOFT T 4 HARLOW T 0

JAKE REED’S secondhalf hat-trick capped a powerful 45-minute display which gave Lowestoft a convincing victory after Harlow had the better of the opening period.

The game began in a heavy thunderstorm and the early signs were ominous for the hosts.

However, as the skies brightened so too did the Trawlerboys’ prospects and they sealed a bigger victory than had seemed likely before the break

Indeed, Harlow went very close to taking a third-minute lead, Fabion Simms forcing a superb save from Trawlerboys keeper Jamie Waite.

It was nearly all Harlow in the opening half-hour, although Lowestoft started to play some neat football and gradually took control of the game as half-time approached.

Lowestoft started the second half strongly and should have taken the lead with Reed shooting wide when well-placed.

But it was a short-lived reprieve as the Trawlerboys took the lead in the 52nd minute when Harry Barker and Reed combined to set up Ryan Jarvis who clipped the ball past Hawks keeper David Hughes.

Four minutes later Andrew Fisk’s pass split the visitors defence and found Reed who took the ball around Hughes and fired home.

In the 72nd minute, Ryan Jarvis fed Harvey Hodd who teed up a simple tap-in for Reed.

The icing was put on the cake in the final minute with substitutes Jamie Forshaw and Chris Henderson creating another simple chance for Reed to complete his hat-trick.