Hackney Wick were beaten 4-1 by an impressive Harlow Town side in a frustrating game.

The Wickers made the dream start and went ahead after just 8 minutes! Adam Cheniti played in a brilliant ball and Seb Mohammed brought it down before firing past the hosts’ keeper James Pellin.

The Hawks started to show why they are strong promotion contenders, though, and Bartz Klimkiewicz did well to claim a dangerous through ball as the hosts settled into the game.

But Hackney Wick were still in control and some good pressing by Leo Pola saw him win the ball high up, but his shot went wide.

In the 15th minute Harlow Town won a penalty after a foul by Adam following a corner. But it was a let off for the Wickers as the penalty was blazed well over!

Following this Harlow began to push for the equaliser, as they fired narrowly wide.

It was level again in the 33rd minute as Bartz attempted to claim a cross but failed, and Korede Dasilva capitalised on the error as he stabbed the ball into an empty net.

Hackney Wick looked to regain the lead quickly, and Adam saw his shot fly narrowly wide.

The game continued to be an end-to-end encounter, with the hosts winning a free-kick in a good position after a poor foul by Piotr Maslowski. But the Wickers defended it well.

And it was Harlow Town who took the lead before half-time. A corner from the left was not cleared properly and Ishaq Ameen headed in to give the Hawks the advantage at the break.

HT: HARLOW TOWN 2-1 HACKNEY WICK

In a similar fashion to the 1st half, the Wickers made a strong start to the 2nd half, as Victory Akam’s fierce shot arrowed across the face of goal and out for a goal kick.

Shortly after, Ben Lewis Gold made a good run through the midfield but his effort flew narrowly over.

Against the run of play, Harlow Town scored again. It was another header from a set piece, this time a corner, and James Folkes gave the hosts a 2-goal cushion.

And on the hour mark, the Hawks scored their fourth of the afternoon. Raheem Gray went on a brilliant run down the left and cut inside. His weak shot squirmed its way underneath Bartz and in. The Wickers keeper will be disappointed not to have done better with that one.

And it should have been five just 2 minutes later, as Bartz came for the ball and missed it. But the angle was tight and the resulting shot was fired into the side netting.

6 minutes later, Hackney Wick were handed a lifeline as Seb was brought down by Pellin and referee Charles Nicholls pointed to the spot. But Pellin redeemed himself as he dived to his left to keep out Frankie Hanmore’s spot kick. Another frustrating moment that summed up the Wickers’ afternoon.

Harlow Town kept pushing to extend their lead, having several shots that all flew wide.

Both Victory and Raza had chances in stoppage time but it was not to be as Hackney Wick fell to a disappointing defeat.

FT: HARLOW TOWN 4-1 HACKNEY WICK

We are next in action on Wednesday (17th January) when we visit Dunmow Town (19:45 kickoff). The reverse fixture ended in a 3-2 win for the Royals as they won it with a last minute penalty. Asa Cansdale scored all 3 that evening, with the Wickers’ goals coming from Seb Mohammed and Jamie Newby-Harris.