by TERRY FRANCIS

HARWICH AND PARKESTON 1

WORMLEY ROVERS 2

Thurlow Nunn League

division one south

THERE was disappointment for Harwich as they lost their undefeated home record at the Royal Oak.

The Shrimpers made a good start by taking the lead in the 12th minute.

A good move was followed by a clever finish from Luke Barnard, deftly slotting the ball home.

Rovers came back and Shrimpers keeper Sam Felgate made an excellent save to keep out Davey Edmee's shot.

With four draws included in their matches, lowly Wormley were looking for their first victory and proving that positions count for little in this league.

Harwich only had a slender one-goal lead at half-time and had lost two of the most influential players to injury in skipper Jordan Heath and Bradley Westley.

After the break, Harwich began to look disjointed and found difficulty in getting their attackers into the game against a well-organised Wormley defence.

As the game wore on, Wormley threatened and, in the 65th minute, when the Shrimpers defence were unable to clear their lines, Edmee headed in Rovers' equalising goal.

Harwich attacked in the closing stages, seeking a winner, and new signing Kevin Coyle abandoned his defensive role and thundered the ball against the crossbar.

Harwich's luck was out, with Shaun Gunn and Barnard having gone close and some contentious decisions not going their way.

With time running out, the final drama came when the referee awarded Wormley a penalty for handball.

Felgate dived to push out skipper Kyle Head's spot-kick but he followed up to net the vital goal. Harwich made desperate efforts to salvage a point in injury time but had not been at their best over the 90 minutes and a jubilant Wormley left with three points.

On Friday, the reserves are at home at the Royal Oak with a 7.45pm kick-off against Shrub End in the Border League Knock Out Cup.

Then on Saturday the first team travel to Frenford.

On Tuesday evening the first team are away to Felixstowe and Walton Reserves in the Thurlow Nunn First Division Knockout Cup.