Leatherhead 2

Harlow Town 5

(Ryman League

division one)

A BLISTERING 33 minutes of attacking football from Harlow Town guaranteed their presence in next season's Ryman League division one as they won 5-2 at Leatherhead on Saturday (Ivan Hirschowitz writes).

Harlow losing 3-0 against Bognor Regis Town and Leatherhead beating Barton Rovers 2-0 last week gave the Surrey side the chance to clip the Hawks' wings and defeat by a two-goal margin would have meant relegation for Ian Allinson's side.

But the Harlow players responded with a superb display of offensive football. Within 33 minutes they were 4-0 ahead and the game was over.

The Hawks' boss picked an attacking team, clearly with no thoughts of playing for a draw. The home side were taken unawares, their defence ripped apart in the early stages.

Carl Drew had already rifled inches over the bar when Harlow took the lead on two minutes, Wade Falana running onto John Nicholson's through ball to beat home stopper Paul Hart with a clever lob.

Marc Salmon doubled the lead on 24 minutes, picking up Falana's pass, teasing his marker then curling an exquisite low shot into the far corner.

Five minutes later Marvin Samuel crossed from the right and Falana's scissor-kick fell to Drew who made no mistake from six yards. The 20-year-old striker doubled his tally four minutes later with a fine finish from Salmon's cross.

Falana and Salmon both had chances to make it 5-0 before half time, the former volleying into the keeper's arms and the latter spooning over a free shot from eight yards.

The home side belatedly reorganised their defence after the break and began to make their presence felt in the Harlow half, led by determined player-manager Tommy Warrilow.

Alarm bells might have sounded when Warrilow scored twice on 65 and 69 minutes, the first a 20-yard volley and the second a header which deflected in off Samuel.

Another Warrilow header flew just over and Shaun O'Neill made a brilliant save from Nigel Webb's shot but with time running out and four goals needed, Leatherhead's late surge was in vain.

Harlow's second half performance was measured and they continued to create chances on the break, Drew and Falana both shooting straight at Hart when clean through.

Substitute Greg Howell had the season's final word with a 25-yard volley which crashed in off the crossbar.

Romford's 1-0 defeat against Yeading on Saturday meant that Harlow finished the season in 18th place.

The reserves beat Ford United on Saturday to win the Essex & Herts Border Combination League division one west.

Great Wakering Rovers visit the Sportcentre on Wednesday night for the semi-final of the East Anglian Cup.

HARLOW: O'Neill, Samuel, Parkyn, Moore, Ettiene, Cook, Nicholson (sub: Young 87min), Ridout, Drew (sub: Kelly 80), Falana (sub: Howell 80), Salmon.