A late goal two minutes from time cost Uxbridge their first league victory since the beginning of the season. The Reds looked to have the points sown up thanks to a first half own goal but as the second half wore on so the home side got stronger and in the end only the agility of Sean Dawson ensured they didn’t travel home with nothing. Neither side was able to stamp their authority early on and indeed the script being written looked one destined to finish goal less. The first real goalmouth action of the game came on nine minutes when a high up and under from Purcell forced Dawson to punch clear and Gordon Guile’s follow up shot was deflected wide. Neil Moore shot over shortly afterwards but Uxbridge themselves were soon beginning to find openings. On eighteen minutes Dean Clark’s pass put Chris Moore in with an opportunity and his lob was only just over and then Mark Gill headed the ball on from Clark’s corner and Stuart Bamford’s shot was blocked. It was still fairly even when, in the thirty eighth minute, Paul Mills won possession and then played a perfect pass to Moore who shook off his defender before shooting past Howell in the Harlow goal only to see the ball finish up the wrong side of the post. That was forgotten eight minutes later though when the young striker’s pace enabled him to win the ball on the right wing and from his cross Lee Tunnell’s shot was turned into his own net by Neil Moore to give the Reds the lead. Uxbridge started the second half well with Moore only just off target with another attempted lob and then Clark heading wide from Gill’s cross. However, as the half wore so the Reds were unable to hold onto possession and consequently Harlow began to really threaten for the first time in the match. On seventy-two minutes Neil Moore almost made amends for his own goal with a shot from the edge of the area which Dawson did well to push around the post. Three minutes later, at the other end, Clark side footed a shot at Howell but the home side should have taken the lead shortly afterwards when Dave Drury’s cross from the right found Guile alone six yards out with an open goal in front of him but somehow the prolific striker missed the target. Uxbridge’s luck didn’t hold though and two minutes from the end Dawson produced another good save to deny John Nicholson but the same player followed up to equalise. Jon Hooker then twice came close to winning the game in injury time. Firstly he put a good chance over and then was denied by a fantastic save from Dawson, tipping his effort over the bar. Dawson saved Uxbridge again almost immediately, this time keeping out a Guile header, and in the end the Reds were pleased to hear the final whistle. From what at one point would have felt like two points lost became a point saved and also ended that worrying run of six consecutive league defeats.

HARLOW TOWN: Howell, Samuel, Parkyn (Nichols 63), Moore, McNally, Cook, Purcell, Nicholson, Guile, Hooker, Drury.

Subs not used: Cowley, Leggatt.

UXBRIDGE: Dawson, S.Bamford, Granville, Mills, Weedon, Walters, Ryder, Gill, Tunnell, Moore, Clark.

Subs not used; Greaves, Callaghan, Flanagan