HARWICH and Parkeston have bolstered their ranks for the promotion push by recruiting experienced midfielder Billy Coe.

The former Stanway Rovers man has joined from Coggeshall United, having previously worked with Shrimpers management duo Kieron Shelley and Mike Wallace at Cornard United.

He goes straight into the squad for Saturday's Thurlow Nunn League division one south match at Coggeshall United.

"Billy's an excellent midfielder," said Wallace.

"He's available for this weekend and he'll add great competition to our very talented squad.

"I'd liken him to a non-league version of David Batty.

"He's a little terrier in the middle of the park, working hard and breaking down play.

"We've had a few injuries recently and that's why we felt we needed to strengthen, heading into the last ten games.

"The last thing we want to do is rest on our laurels."

On Saturday, the Shrimpers travel to meet sixth-placed Coggeshall.

Their hosts have five games in hand and so are not out of the title race.

Meanwhile, Wallace hailed his side's defensive solidity after holding firm for an excellent 1-0 victory at Wormley Rovers on Saturday.

The Shrimpers had five players out, included suspended defensive linchpin Joe Knight.

To make matters worse, others were struggling with illness but pushed themselves to get through the Thurlow Nunn League contest.

They were rewarded with another excellent result and one that lifted the team up to third in division one south.

“It was a fantastic result, given the circumstances," said Wallace.

“We had five players out for one reason or another and three others played on despite being ill.

“We were really thin on the ground but I can’t praise the boys enough because it was a real backs-to-the-wall effort.

“Keeper Sam Felgate and the four defenders were outstanding, worked so hard and really put their bodies on the line.

“It’s nice because our front men have rightly taken much of the limelight this season, because of the goals they’ve scored.

“But this was a day when our defenders deserve a massive pat on the back.

“It was a smash-and-grab victory but the boys really deserved it and we couldn’t have been more delighted.”

The Wormley pitch was deemed playable following Friday's downpour and Harwich took full advantage with Callum Griffith's solitary strike proving enough to bring a valuable three points back to the Royal Oak.