TOLLESBURY 2

HARWICH AND PARKESTON 3

Essex and Suffolk Border League premier division

A THRILLING end to the match saw Harwich gain a deserved victory and move to a mid-table position.

With goalkeeper Sam Felgate unavailable, outfield player Richard Traynor stepped into the breach and he gave an excellent performance.

Harwich had to defend early on and, in the seventh minute, Dom Nea made a smart goal-line clearance.

Two minutes later, the Tollesbury keeper pulled off a good save at the expense of a corner from Chris Stratton’s shot.

Tollesbury took the lead in the 19th minute when a cross cannoned off a defender and Danny Cross reacted quickly to send a bullet header into the net.

Harwich mounted a wave of attacks, with dangerous crosses from Ben Elliot and Ashley Wood.

Ryan Heath was prominent on his return to the Shrimpers, shooting just wide and then firing over after an opening created by Stratton.

Harwich got their reward in the 44th minute, when Wood equalised with a clever looping shot.

In the 67th minute, Michael Murray worked his way through the home defence and put Harwich in front with a cool finish.

Matt Geen powered his way through the Tollesbury defence but found the angle too difficult and his effort was cleared.

It seemed that Tollesbury had snatched a point in the closing minute, when Ben White levelled the scores with a header from a corner.

However, in the fourth minute of injury-time, Elliot broke through to net Harwich’s winner with a great shot into the far corner of the net.

Harwich’s veterans beat their counterparts from Halstead 4-2, with goals from Paul Coombes (two), James Helyard and Paul Lyons.

Tomorrow, Harwich have no game but there should be an exciting match at the Royal Oak when the Essex and Suffolk Border League entertain the Spartan League in an FA Level Seven Representative Cup encounter (kick-off 2pm).