HARLOW Town have won eight and drawn one of their last nine home matches ahead of York City’s visit in the second round of the FA Trophy.

The mid-table Hawks drew their last clash at the Harlow Arena 2-2 to Canvey Island, who are second-bottom in the Isthmian League premier division standings.

But, prior to sharing the spoils in that January 2 clash, the Essex part-timers had enjoyed a 100 per cent run on their 3G pitch, stretching back to September and including a shock 2-0 victory over the Minstermen’s big-spending National League rivals Eastleigh.

The artificial turf is clearly an advantage for Harlow, whose record of nine victories in front of their own fans can only be matched by top-two teams Bognor Regis Town and Needham Market.

Their last home loss was a 3-1 reverse against AFC Sudbury,.

But manager Danny Chapman has also suffered a blow with 16-goal top scorer Alex Read having handed in a transfer request that has been accepted.

Ex-Tilbury, Brentwood and Aveley marksman Read has netted 148 times in 198 appearances for Harlow, but it remains to be seen whether he will feature against the Minstermen.

The home team will definitely be without former Dagenham keeper Ed Thompson due to a dislocated knee.

Also missing because of knee problems are striker Joe Benjamin, who once made eight appearances for Northampton, as well as winger Junior Dadson.

Chapman will, however, be able to call on a wealth of experience in defence, where Ibrahima Sonko and Billy Jones are centre-back partners.

Former Senegal international Sonko, who scored one goal in four matches for his country, played in the Premier League for Reading, Stoke and Hull, whilst also turning out for Brentford, Portsmouth and Ipswich.

He made 303 professional appearances in the English game and netted 18 times before spending three seasons playing in Turkey and, at 35, he is now enjoying his second campaign with Harlow.

Jones, 33, has played at Football League level for Leyton Orient, Kidderminster, Crewe, Exeter, Cheltenham and Newport, racking up 286 games and hitting the target 11 times.

Harlow (probable): Hughes, Pope, Sonko, Jones, Eadie, Muguo, Gordon, Small, Noto, da Costa, Read.