Chelmsford City 1

Harlow Town 1

(AXA FA Cup third qualifying round)

A PLACE in the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup was cruelly snatched away from Harlow Town as Chelmsford City escaped an upset with a 93rd minute equaliser from Kris Lee on Sunday.

The tie was due to be replayed at the Sportcentre last night (Wednesday) with the winners to face Bedford Town of the Ryman premier on October 27.

Chelmsford had the upper hand in the early stages of the game, with Hawks keeper James Hasell seeing plenty of action. Russell Williamson struck the visitors' bar in the 15th minute.

Harlow played some good football in midfield but created no distinct chances, leaving the scoreline blank at the break.

Early in the second half, Chelmsford's number nine Kris Lee headed over the bar when it seemed easier to score.

The Hawks fought back with a Marc Salmon effort which went close on 49 minutes, and the deadlock was broken seven minutes later when Salmon again burst through.

This time he found the net after a five-man move on the left hand side, which the winger coolly finished off by slotting the ball through the keeper's legs from close range.

From that moment, Harlow were under pressure as Chelmsford searched for the equaliser.

Hasell made an excellent double save in the 64th minute, clearing a shot from Junior Samuel first and then the follow-up from Russell Williamson.

Harlow hit their hosts on the counter-attack and almost increased their lead when Richard Hurst in the City goal failed to collect a Martin Young header, but managed to regather the ball from Marvin Samuel's chest.

The Hawks seemed to have weathered the storm but, three minutes into injury time, they failed to clear a corner and Kris Lee's shot from just inside the penalty box gave Hasell no chance.

Meanwhile, in the Ryman League division one, Harlow lost 1-0 to Walton & Hersham last Wednesday, their first defeat in a competitive match at the Sportcentre since January 6.

The only goal went to the visitors in the 71st minute when Bas Savage found the net.

The closest the home side came was in the fifth minute when Tony McNally's header was cleared off the line by Francis Dolan.

The result saw Ian Allinson's side drop to ninth place in the table, although they are only two points off fourth spot with two games in hand.

This Saturday, Harlow are away to Dulwich Hamlet. Next Tuesday they visit Slough Town, 7.45pm kick-off.