PROUD Harwich and Parkeston boss Kieron Shelley hailed the spirit and never-say-die attitude of his players after they battled back to secure a remarkable 5-5 draw at Lopes Tavares.

The sides shared an incredible ten goals in Saturday’s Thurlow Nunn League division one south thriller – with the Shrimpers rallying from 4-1 down.

Lopes Tavares scored their fifth goal right at the death and looked to have snatched a topsy-turvy victory.

But Harwich responded with a last-gasp strike of their own to set them up nicely for Saturday’s next league match, against Benfleet at the Royal Oak (kick-off 3pm).

“It was incredible and probably something we’ll never experience again,” said an upbeat Shelley.

“We know we’re not perfect and a work in progress, so we’re going to make mistakes and concede goals.

“But the character we showed to stage a fightback was unbelievable.

“I can’t fault the boys’ attitude because there was no feeling sorry for themselves.

“They took our comments on the chin and went out and executed the second-half plan to perfection, winning it 4-1.

“The two halves were chalk and cheese but we dug deep and kept fighting until the very end.

“When Lopes Tavares got their fifth goal, my heart fell out.

“I was gutted for our boys because it came against the run of play and we’d worked so hard to get back in the game.

“So to go and score again was just incredible.

“The boys didn’t give up and I can see my philosophy in the way they played, in terms of their work-rate and ‘refuse to lose’ mentality.

“That’s my mantra wherever I go.”

Harwich were back in action on Tuesday night, when they visited Takeley for an Essex Senior Cup tie.

They eventually lost 1-0 but Shelley was more than happy with his side’s performance and described it as the best since he took over in the Shrimpers’ hot-seat.

“We were very unlucky to lose and it was the best performance since I’ve been at the club,” he said.

“All credit to the players.

“I was very impressed and it was nice that so many people were complimentary afterwards.

“Takeley are undefeated and doing well in their league but we matched them in all areas.

“Our discipline, shape, work-rate and desire were second to none and the boys left the pitch with their heads held high.

“We’re going well.

“I feel very positive and both on and off the pitch, we’re heading in the right direction.”

Harwich are seventh in the table, having won two, drawn three and lost just one of their opening six matches.

Joe Knight notched twice in the Lopes Tavares thriller and overall, in the league, the entertaining Shrimpers have plundered 18 goals and conceded 16.