Harlow Town’s nine-match unbeaten league run may have come to an end but determined boss Danny Chapman still expects his side to not only achieve a play-off place – but win the title!

The busy festive period finally caught up with Harlow Town as a lethargic performance saw them slip to a 2-0 loss at Potters Bar Town on Monday for their first defeat in Ryman division one north since going down at Cheshunt in October.

Chapman expects a big response from his side – starting with victory in Saturday’s league match away to Soham Town Rangers, which comes three days before the prestigious Essex Senior Cup quarter-final tie at the plush Weston Homes Community Stadium against nPower League One side Colchester United.

Harlow remain just three points outside the play-off places.

They are 10 points off new leaders Leiston – a team Harlow beat 4-1 away in October!

One-time runaway leaders Needham Market appear to have imploded on the back of three successive defeats – and the title’s up for grabs now.

“We went 17 unbeaten from last January to get a play-off spot. A couple of months ago people thought Harlow were out of it but now they are looking over their shoulder,” Chapman said.

“There is still a long way to go. We look to win every game and we have got to go and get three points [at Soham].

“I said at the start of the season we could win the title and people smirked. Our ambition is to win the league. We have got every chance of doing it. We just need to stay focused and work as hard as we can. Everyone believes in what we are trying to do. We need to get back to basics. The players can’t feel sorry for themselves.”

He added: “Every team will have a blip. We had our blip two months ago and we are now kicking on. Other teams are still going to have that blip and it’s important we take advantage of it.

“I believe this group of players can go on and not just get promotion but can go on and win this league. Why not? We need to keep consistency and keep winning football matches.”

Midfielder Getro Kilapi is doubtful for the Soham match. He missed the Potters Bar game after coming off with a knee injury against Chatham Town on New Year’s Eve.