Harlow Town 0 aet

Boreham Wood 0 aet

Harlow win 4-2 on penalties

(FA Cup second qualifying round replay)

IAN ALLINSON'S Harlow Town booked their place in the next round of the FA Cup following a victory over Ryman Premiership outfit Boreham Wood, though they took over 210 minutes to do so and owed a huge debt of gratitude to the penalty-saving heroics of James Hassel.

Following Harlow's strong performance in the first game at Boreham Wood, the Hawks had high hopes that their fine home form in Ryman division one this season would see them get a win.

The game started off with a battle for the control of mid-field, with only a great Marc Salmon shot forcing Wood keeper Noel Imber into action.

It became clear early on that the most dangerous threat from Boreham Wood would be from their well-drilled set pieces and so it proved on 27 minutes when Jeran Meah headed against the bar following a floated-in free kick.

The frantic end-to-end nature of the game persisted until half time, with both teams showing plenty of enterprise but little in the way of clear-cut scoring opportunities, and the teams turned around with the game very much in the balance.

The first chance of the second half fell to Harlow's Jon Coley, who fired Marvin Samuel's pass onto the underside of the bar from the edge of the six-yard box.

The Boreham Wood keeper was called into action four minutes later when a strong header from Marc Salmon forced Imber into a good save.

Harlow's last real chance of the half came on 58 minutes when a long throw from Neil Moore set a close range shot for Corey Brown, but the recent addition to the Hawks' ranks saw his shot neatly caught by Imber.

As the Hawks grew increasingly frustrated with their inability to convert chances, Boreham Wood began to exert more pressure and by the final ten minutes Harlow were on the back foot.

However, despite their pressure the visitors were only able to force one good save from James Hassel, this being drawn by a good shot from Meah.

After the game moved into extra time the tone of the game stayed the same, high on endeavour, low on chances, and there was little surprise when the game went to penalties.

Boreham Wood got off to the worst possible start to the shoot-out when Hassel guessed right and saved Jon Lawford's penalty and Samuel converted his effort for the home side.

The next four penalties were all converted, with Meah and Dave McDonald scoring for the visitors and Salmon and Brown converting for the Hawks to leave the score at 3-2.

But after Brian Jones' penalty left the spot Hassel once again had the measure of his opponent and pulled off a great save to leave Martin Young needing to score to win, he duly did to leave the final score at 4-2 to Harlow.

Harlow will travel to Chelmsford City on Sunday for the next round, kick-off at 2pm. On Tuesday Harlow will return to Ryman League action when they travel to Yeading, unless an FA Cup replay against Chelmsford City is required at the Sportcentre.

HARLOW: Hassel, Samuel, Rawling, Gray, Moore, McNally, Cowley, Corey (sub: Gibson 105), Browne, Coley, Hooker (sub: Young 87), Salmon.