Harlow Town (0) 1 Vaughan 86
Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Headcount: 277
Admission: £8 Senior
Programme: £2
Mileage: 120/3,978
The first signs of wheel wobble came at Kingstonian when a late goal was needed to retrieve a point. The second wheel disappeared, somewhat undeservedly, at Dorking and when the third wheel slipped from the axle at Haringey, despite the 4-0 score line, some consolation could be found in the number of chances created. But, as the last wheel buckled under the wagon at bottom of the table Harlow there could be no excuses for such a lame performance.
Let’s get the elephant out of the room, the 3G surface at Harlow is a disgrace, a throw back to the old days at QPR. As the players ran past they sounded like horses galloping past at the Derby. But, as will always be pointed out, it is the same for both sides and it has not exactly suited Harlow this season having not won a single match at the Arena prior to this game.
Tonbridge fielded their two summer signings from Harlow and whilst Jared Small was proffered a warm welcome, the same wasn’t forthcoming for Alex Read, somewhat surprising given the 178 goals he scored for them over five seasons.
The first half was, by some distance, the worst I’ve seen this season. It took 20 minutes for pen to be put to paper and this was only to make sure the biro still worked.
As the sun had dipped below the main stand, the first half served only to remind you that your hands and feet were now getting cold. A comfortable save apiece from both goalkeeper’s barely meriting a mention.
The second period really couldn’t be any worse and when, after 50 minutes, Arthur Lee planted a header against the bar from a Tom Beere corner the prospects for better to come were hopeful.
After being brought down by JJ Da Cruz that earned a booking for the Harlow man, Beere cracked the free kick narrowly wide.
What few chances that arrived were Tonbridge’s as Harlow seemed content to soak up the pressure, especially as this wasn’t amounting to much with the saves asked of Josh Bexon being fairly routine.
A 69th minute booking for Louis Yuill was significant only for a foul committed four minutes later that would definitely have brought a caution had it not been for the previous booking.
Four minutes from time an innocuous situation brought indecision on the edge of the Tonbridge six yard box that allowed substitute Laurence Vauighan to stab the ball home from Harlow’s only shot of the entire half.
Tonbridge were shocked into a desperate attempt to take something from the game and time added saw a shot from Tommy Whitnell saved low by Bexon with the follow-up hacked away from the line. A strong penalty claim for hand ball fell on deaf ears before the Harlow supporters were able to celebrate their first home win of the season.
A long wait in the bar ensued as Steve McKimm locked his side into a dressing room dressing down, the manager looking visibly angry when he emerged from his post-match interview.
Getting those wheels back on track in an Isthmian League Cup tie at Worthing seems a little far-fetched at the moment but Saturday’s return to the green, green grass of home is almost a must win in terms of confidence rebuilding.
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