A PLACE in the third qualifying round of the AXA FA Cup and two more Ryman League division one points could have belonged to Harlow Town, but for the loss of a late goal twice within the space of three days.

Ian Allinson's side drew 2-2 against Boreham Wood of the premier division in the Cup on Saturday, after recording the same scoreline against Carshalton Athletic last Wednesday.

The Cup replay is at the Sportcentre tonight (Wednesday), kick-off 7.45pm, with a visit to Chelmsford City of the Dr Martens League awaiting the winners.

The Hawks were off to the prefect start on Saturday as, in the second minute, Danny Cowley broke free on the right and crossed to the near post where Wood's Dominic Grime turned the ball into his own net.

The home side equalised on 11 minutes when Matt Brady's deep cross was headed in by Garry Wotton.

But Harlow surprised their hosts again in the 22nd minute as John Coley intercepted a weak free kick before crossing for Marvin Samuel to hammer in a sweet shot from the edge of the box.

The visitors had the better of the remainder of the first half, Corey Browne seeing a shot saved by Wood keeper Noel Imber.

The second half saw the home side enjoying the majority of possession, but the Hawks looked dangerous on the break and had the better chances.

Cowley shot just wide after a Jon Hooker free kick and later volleyed wide from ten yards when he had time to take an extra touch.

Subsitute Martin Young had a golden chance to make it 3-1 on 81 minutes but he blazed over from six yards after Marc Salmon set him up.

Two minutes later, a lapse in the Harlow defence allowed Ellis Kodra to put Chima Eberendu through and he lobbed James Hasell for the equaliser.

Young thought he had scored the winner but his goal was controversially disallowed because Salmon was offside.

In the dying seconds, Hasell made a superb save from John Lawford's 22-yard shot.

The game against Carshalton at the Sportcentre saw Salmon give Harlow a 31st-minute lead after a defensive error.

The visitors equalised on 59 minutes as David Gray was adjudged to have fouled Mark Hynes and ex-Hawk Wade Falana scored from the penalty spot.

Gray atoned for his mistake on 69 minutes with a looping header from Hooker's cross to make it 2-1.

But, with three minutes to go, former Bulgarian international Bontcho Guenchev slid in to convert a free kick.

Samuel came close to an injury-time winner when his free kick hit the inside of the post.

The Hawks have no game on Saturday because of the international matches. They host Walton & Hersham next Wednesday (October 10), kick-off 7.45pm.

HARLOW (v Boreham Wood): Hasell, Samuel, Rawlings, Gray, Moore, McNally, Cowley, Browne (sub: Young 65min), Coley, Hooker (sub: Nicholson 68), Salmon