Harwich & Parkeston bring home hard earned point from visit to May & Baker

Manager Michael Wallace commented 'Fair play to the Players, never going to be easy going to May& Baker on a Friday night. However never stopped working in the second half. Some negatives and some positives to work on moving on to Tuesday nights home match with Holland'

Match Report from Tony Armstrong:-

A 130 mile round trip on a Friday night travelling in the rush hour seems grossly unfair but that is what the Harwich & Parkeston team had to endure as they visited May & Baker last Friday. To highlight the unfairness of it was indicated that the kick off was delayed because players of both teams were held up en route due to a gridlocked M25 and kick off was delayed and pre match preparation affected for all. For May & Baker it was their first League match of the season due to a 14 day shut down due to a confirmed Convid case within their Club but they did come with an impressive 3-1 victory against Barkingside away in the FA Vase during the week previous. It was clear from the outset Harwich were going to be on a height differential as the home team were clearly towering in size and it was evident that their main tactic was to get the ball into the box as quickly as possible and they certainly caused many initial threats especially from long throw under the crossbar from both flanks. Harwich adapted well though and organised themselves to thwart the challenge and probably could have had an interval after a fine strike from Hampson was saved by the home keeper just before the break. Level at half time the Harwich supporters were hopeful to carry on the good work. The Shrimpers second half performance overall was better. More competitive and working harder all over the pitch especially defensively indicated that it was going to be a close encounter. However it was May & Baker who took the lead when Harwich failed to deal with a near post corner and in the ensuing scramble the ball was back heeled into the net from close range. This spurred on the home side and Harwich were indebted to keeper Sam Felgate who made a great double save to prevent an increase to the score line. The home side persisited in their aerial attacking tactic throughout but Harwich held firm with the back four solid and organised. Harwich always looked dangerous on the break and Lindo and Hampton were persistent in causing the home defence problems with their pace going forward. Deservedly Harwich equalised with an Adam Hampson classic when he dispossesed a home defender 25 yards out and volleyed spectacularly from the edge of the box giving the keeper no chance. Both teams used their three substitutes in the second half with May & Baker managing to produce another three towering attack minded players. However Harwich nearly snatched the points late on when a great cross from Jack Higgleton just escaped Adam Hampson's lunge close to the goal line but probably overall a draw was a fair result and both teams should take credit for 90 minutes of entertainment in very difficult blustery conditions and Harwich should be pleased how they managed to contain a very threatening attack of May & Baker.

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