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Maidstone United’s long stretch without a victory has come to an end after they overcame a two goal deficit to win for the first time since the match against Ramsgate shortly before Christmas.
Just like in the corresponding fixture at Harlow last year, The Stones left it late to snatch a winner which came courtesy of a generous penalty when Laurie Stewart was adjudged to have fouled Nathan Paul as the Maidstone player went past him in the box.
With both sides looking vulnerable at the back there were always going to be goals in this fixture and it took just two minutes for the deadlock to be broken when a ball was driven across the box which was missed by Ben Lewis and then crucially by Taylor Sinfield and despite the best efforts of Andy Walker, Michael Bardle slammed the ball into the top left hand corner of the net.
The Stones responded well to falling behind and they went close to equalising three times over the next ten minutes. On four minutes, Elliot Bradbrook slipped a pass to Lloyd Blackman and the Maidstone striker’s shot was tipped over the bar by James Hasell in the Harlow goal and then Jay Saunders lashed a drive just wide before Blackman saw a header clear the bar.
Shortly afterwards Maidstone lost Ashley Ulph to a knee injury and it was then Harlow's turn to threaten to score as on 18 minutes Lewis cleared an effort from Chris Ellerbeck off the line and then Jon Stevenson forced Walker into a smart stop.
As the half progressed, both sides continued to create chances and on 32 minutes James Pinnock put the ball over the top for Blackman but he rushed his shot and missed the target.
Then four minutes later, Harlow doubled their lead. Sinfield committed a foul throw on the Maidstone right and Stevenson quickly switched play over to the other side of the pitch where Idemudia Okojie whipped in a dangerous cross and Riccie Crace slammed the ball past Walker from eight yards.
If Maidstone were to get anything from the game they needed a quick response and just six minutes after the break they hauled themselves back into the match when Elliot Bradbrook delivered a corner to the near post and Jay Saunders arrowed a header into the net.
The home side then lost goal keeper James Hasell to illness before they had an excellent chance to stretch their lead on 69 minutes when Okojie found Sam Berry who turned into space in the box only to shoot across the face of goal.
Sixty seconds later, substitute keeper Ben Stone was called into action and he failed to collect a high cross from Nathan Paul but James Peacock's header dropped just over the bar and then Walker kept The Stones in the game when he rushed from his goal to deny Ellerbeck and then he had to race back to his line to collect an attempted lob from substitute Shaun Gliddon.
Walker then immediately threw the ball to Bradbrook who pumped it towards the Harlow area for Pinnock to chase. Stone came out to try and clear the danger but he missed his kick which presented Pinnock the simple task of rolling the ball into the unguarded net.
Having come from two goals down for the fourth time in twelve games, the momentum was with The Stones and on 82 minutes they should have been awarded a penalty when first a cross from Blackman appeared to be handled and then when Pinnock went to try and finish from close range, he was shoved and he scuffed the ball wide.
Perhaps this passage of play was on the referee's mind when Paul entered the box with just one minute remaining. It looked as though Paul had got round Laurie Stewart when Mr McKay blew for a foul and to the surprise of every one in the ground he pointed to the spot. Blackman was trusted with the responsibility of the penalty and he put the ball straight down the middle of the goal to give The Stones a much needed victory.
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