Harlow Town 2 Carshalton Athletic 0

The Robins chose their first trip to Barrows Farm to put on their worst display for many weeks.

There can be few complaints over a two-goal defeat that sees them drop from a comfortable mid-table position to further anxiety as several other teams at the wrong end of the table are showing improved form and further congesting what could be the tightest league finish for many years.

The Robins were denied the services of key players Harwood and Quinton, both carrying minor injuries, but this could not adequately explain how the team fell apart in the final quarter hour, and the Robins woes increased with what seemed to be recurrence of the thigh strain that has dogged goalkeeper Aaron Howe in recent weeks.

The first half was notable for the number of misplaced passes as both teams struggled to cope with a poor playing surface.

Despite his tendency to over-elaborate on the ball in the pursuit of the perfect opening, Rob Ursell was again the focus of most of the Robins' good moves.

Sadly, his colleagues were usually too slow to take advantage of his vision, perfectly illustrated when Phil Ruggles failed to make any meaningful contact with a chipped pass over the Town defence.

Ursell tried his luck with a drive from 20 yards, only to be denied by a finger-tip save by home keeper Dumoulin.

Ryan Watts was booked for a fierce tackle as he attempted to bring the ball out from the back, but the Robins looked to have an edge at this point and a James Evans drive was blocked and a penalty appeal for handball denied as the Robins pressed forward.

The main threat to the Robins came from set piece situations and, in total contrast to anything the Robins attempted, the delivery of ball into the danger areas, particularly free-kicks taken by Danny Hill, had the Robins defenders, missing Harwood's aerial dominance, on the back foot.

In the final minute of the half it was only the agility of Howe that kept Carshalton on level terms with a magnificent save from a Lee Miles header following Hill's delivery from the left.

Zak Graham replaced Stevens at the start of the half, but if anything the game deteriorated further.

Simon Cooper found Ruggles with a through ball, but his effort was neither a cross or a shot and the chance was gone.

So was the Robin's striker shortly after when Ben Wright came on to replace him for the final quarter.

Harlow's Lindie blasted a shot wildly over when well placed, but Town were increasing the pressure and things looked bad when Howe was clearly distressed as he came out to smother long ball through the middle.

When play resumed the Robins missed out on a glorious chance to take the lead when Evan's corner was returned across the face of the goal with no one able to get the touch needed to divert the ball into the net and a chipped shot by Carpenter turned out to be the last serious goal attempt.

Town's substitute striker, Dean Williams, stepped into the limelight with 15 minutes remaining, when he made the most of a long through ball and held off several attempted challenges before prodding the ball past Howe to give his side the lead.

The Robins visibly wilted at this point and it came as no surprise when with five minutes remaining another Robins attack broke down and Lindie took on a retreating Robins defence down the left.

When the ball was pulled back to Williams, the Town substitute scored emphatically with a rising shot into the corner of the Robins goal to end any Robins interest in what turned out to be a depressing afternoon.

Robins team: Howe, Cooper, Watts, Graves, Gonsalves, Evans, Stevens (Graham), Carpenter, Ruggles (Wright), Ursell, Johnson Subs not used: HarwoodNext gamesSaturday, February 9 (3pm): Carshalton Athletic v Horsham, Ryman Premier DivisionTuesday, February 16 (3pm): Carshalton Athletic v AFC Hornchurch, Ryman Premier Division