Hawks hit by Greene half-volley

HARLOW T 1 AFC SUDBURY 3

AFC SUDBURY found the net three times in the first hour to set up a comprehensive win over the Hawks which moved the Suffolk side to within a point of the play-off places.

However, the game was soured in the final minutes when both sides were involved in a melee that resulted in three players being sent off.

The visitors were on the front foot from the start, and took the lead in the 14th minute after a scramble in the goalmouth.

Harlow goalkeeper David Hughes parried a shot into the path of Sam Bantick, whose effort deflected to Jack Newman and he picked his spot to finish low into the net.

Harlow responded well and quickly forced the Suds stopper Marcus Garnham into a number of good saves, but they couldn't find a breakthrough. The visitors doubled their advantage five minutes after the half-time interval when a Sudbury corner was headed home by Luke Callander who capitalised on some poor setpiece defending from the Hawks.

The game was effectively over on 61 minutes when Aaron Greene scored a delightful third for the visitors.

With Harlow keeper David Hughes off his line, Greene lobbed a half-volley from 25 yards that seemed to spend an eternity in the air before dipping under the crossbar at the last second.

Harlow managed a consolation goal from debutant Bamba Ngamb, who tapped in from close range in the 76th minute., but it was too little too late for the hosts.

After a late melee, Harlow scorer Ngamb and midfielder Lawrence Yiga were shown a red card for retaliation, with Sudbury’s Ryan Henshaw also given his marching orders.