Tooting & M'ham2

Harlow4

(Ryman Division One)s=10HARLOW pulled off a classic comeback in south London on Saturday after a dismal first half performance.o

s=9Marc Salmon shot over the bar a minute before Tooting opened the scoring in the 14th, Neil Ham's low shot from inside the box evading James Hasell's dive.o

In the 17th minute, the Hawks' John Coley cut in from the right to fire wide in a notable half chance. Harlow were playing poorly and it was no surprise when Tooting went 2-0 up in the 21st minute through Nigel Webb, their no.9 finishing a move which richocheted off Hasell into the net. Harlow had another scare in the 34th when a Tooting corner struck the bar. The visitors were in desperate need of a half-time team-talk and were thankful that Tooting's Nicholson missed a header in the 40th minute.

Harlow manager Ian Allinson had to further adjust his team's formation to improve on a lack-lustre first-half and to compensate for the absence of David Gray and Jon Hooker. The Hawks went from 4-3-3 to 4-4-2, Martin Young came on for John Coley and within 20 seconds they had reduced the arrears. Moving up the right, Marvin Samuel fed Salmon who cut in from the right and shot into the roof of the net from an angled approach, 2-1. In the 51st minute, Martin Young was fouled outside the box and won a free-kick. Samuel floated a lovely ball onto captain McNally's head and the equaliser was headed over Tooting keeper Tony Webb.

Harlow were on top now and the chances came thick and fast in front of the home team's goal. Young's effort was disallowed in the 51st after being judged offside as the Hawks hunted the lead. They found it in the 75th when Samuel and Salmon linked up on the right again to send a low cross into the path of a perfectly timed run from Tompkins.

In the 90th minute, Tooting were throwing men forward when that man Samuel intercepted a pass and broke up the right. He could have gone alone but he instead squared it to Salmon who struck the back of the net from just inside the area. The disappointment of such a monumental turnaround clearly affected Tooting's Mickey Brady more than most when he was dismissed for a vindictive tackle on Young just before the end of added time. Forthcoming league fixtures: home against Thame United on Saturday 17, November at 3pm.

Last Wednesday night Harlow won the FA Trophy replay at home to Cleveden 5-0. The flattering scoreline belied a more even-handed game where Harlow were more lethal in front of goal. Goals from Marvin Samuel (12, 90), Mark Tompkins (29, 80) and John Coley (62) made sure that Harlow go through to the second round to meet Ryman Premier league's Hampton and Richmond away on Saturday 1, December.