HARWICH AND PARKESTON 2

BARNSTON 2

Essex and Suffok Border League premier division

WITH both clubs needing points to stay clear of the bottom of the table, this proved to be an exciting match.

Barnston opened the scoring in the 12th minute with an excellent piece of skill from Joe Jones, when he lobbed the ball over goalkeeper Sam Felgate and ran around him to net.

Barnston continued to hold the upper hand and Jake D’eath and Red Carney had scoring chances.

Ashley Wood fired in a good long-range effort as Harwich tried to come back and later they had a strong penalty appeal turned down.

In the 40th minute, the Shrimpers won a free-kick when Matt Geen was fouled and Michael Hammond scored the equaliser with a well-placed shot into the roof of the net.

Barnston regained the lead just before half-time when a glancing header from Mick Simmons hit both uprights before striking Felgate and going into the net.

Play was even in the second half and in the 73rd minute Harwich equalised when a handball gave Darren Bethell the opportunity to net from the penalty spot.

Barnston attacked strongly in the closing stages and Felgate twice did well to make point-blank saves from Jones.

At the final whistle, a draw was a fair result.