FOOTBALL ROUND-UP

HARLOW Town face a relegation six-pointer against Boreham Wood this weekend after succumbing to their first defeat under new boss Greg Alzapiedi against Hastings United on Saturday.

The Rams sit third from bottom in the Ryman Premier Division with 24 points, while this week's opponents are just five points and four places above them in the table.

Harlow were denied the chance to make immediate amends for last week's defeat when their match with Maidstone was postponed on Tuesday due to a water-logged pitch.

Instead, the side will have an extra few days to mull over their disappointing defeat to Hastings.

The local side slumped to three down and all hope appeared to be lost with just 11 minutes left.

But late goals from Raphael Sylvester and Luke Webster gave them a sniff. However, the hosts held on to confine Harlow to their twelfth loss of the season.

Elsewhere, Essex Olympian Senior Premier Division side Buckhurst Hill lost ground on the leaders as ten-man Westhamians got the better of the local side at the weekend.

Peter Beaumont's goal was the only bright spark for the hosts as they slipped to a 2-1 reverse, and Phil Hernon's men will be eager for a quick response at Hannakins Farm on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Herts Senior County League Division One side Debden Sports will be desperate to reignite their promotion bid with a win over fellow hopefuls Hitchin Town Arena on Saturday.

Debden slipped further off the pace being set by the front-runners as they fell to a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Harpenden Rovers, but a win would see them leapfrog this week's opponents.

In the Bishop's Stortford, Stansted and District League, Premier Division side Loughton were beaten by promotion-chasing Langley Rangers, 3-2 on Saturday, while they face Salvation Army this week.

Essex Olympian Senior Premier Division team Epping were knocked out of the cup by Runwell Hospital last week, but they will be hoping a return to league action against Galleywood on Saturday will bring a change in the club’s fortunes.