s=10THE HAWKS are just one win away from a place in the first round proper of the FA Cup, following their superb 3-0 victory over Chelmsford Town.o

s=9Despite playing two-thirds of the game against their Dr Martens Premiership opponents with just ten men, and playing in front of an impressive 700-strong crowd, the Hawks' performance was more than enough to humble their more illustrious opponents.o

Chelmsford started the game the stronger side as Harlow found their feet.

The pivotal moment of the game came when Harlow's Marvin Samuel was sent off for his second yellow card offence (a highly dubious hand-ball decision).

The percieved refereeing mistake spurred the Hawks on and within five minutes a mistake by Chelmsford keeper Richard Hunt allowed Marc Salmon to head into an empty net to put Harlow ahead.

Chelmsford could have equalised within five minutes from a Danny Hochton header that crashed off the bar.

Harlow doubled their lead in first-half injury time when a run from Martin Young down the right flank resulted in a blocked shot which Marc Salmon was on hand to fire home.

Ten minutes after the restart Salmon could have claimed his hat-trick following a one-on-one against Hunt, but the keeper saved well.

Harlow's pressure was rewarded on 67 minutes when substitute Corey Browne put through Martin Young, whose superb shot from the edge of the area beat Hunt for an un-assailable 3-0 lead.

Harlow's reward is a final qualifying round tie against Ryman Premiership side Bedford Town this Saturday at the Sportcentre.

Bedford were promoted from Ryman Division One last season, and Harlow faced them in the final game that season and came away with a 1-1 draw, so there should be no spurprises in store for Ian Allinson's men.

f=Zapf Dingbats lo Harlow travelled to Dulwich Hamlet last Saturday, and came away with a 1-1 draw but should really have taken full points from the contest.

In a good-tempered game that hardly warranted the nine yellow cards produced, Harlow dominated the mid-field and would have had more goals were it not for the heroics of Mercer in the Hamlet goal.

Harlow's goal came when Marc Salmon fed Martin Young, whose deflected shot crossed the line in the eighth minute.

Dulwich equalised through a penalty on 79 minutes and despite their pressure, Harlow couldn't beat Mercer.