Matt Rush scored a last minute winner to push Harlow Town up to fourth in the Isthmian League South Central Division and secure a 2-1 success away at Ashford Town (Middlesex).

Ashford took the lead through Dan Brown after just two minutes but Oliver Gnandi quickly restored parity. The game looked to be eking out for a draw but just inside stoppage time Rush’s finish secured the point for the Hawks.

Both sides finished the game with 10 men after Harlow’s Syrus Gordan and Ashford’s Scott Weight were dismissed following the winner.

Without a win in their last three games coming into the fixture, Harlow will have been hoping to start quickly and get on the front foot, but that idea was scuppered almost immediately when Brown took aim and found the corner inside the first couple of minutes to give Ashford the lead.

The Hawks were behind for as little as five minutes though as Gnandi looped a header over Ashford keeper Sam Mason.

With half an hour on the clock, Harlow were handed the opportunity to take the lead from the penalty spot, but De’Jaune Taylor-Crossdale’s effort was kept out by Mason to keep it at 1-1.

Both sides traded blows in the second half, but it took until the dying embers for the winner to be found, striker Rush popping up to snatch all three points for the visitors.

In the aftermath, both Weight and Gordon were shown red cards, but Harlow held on for maximum points.

The Hawks return to action tonight when they host Tiptree Heath in the Tolleshunt D’Arcy Memorial Cup, kicking off at 8.00pm.