EXCITING WIN FOR HARWICH AGAINST LEAGUE LEADERS FRAMLINGHAM TOWN

There was an air of excitement from the kick off with Harwich in third place and both teams keyed up for this top of the table clash. Initially the teams were looking to gain midfield supremacy and with defences in determined mood, the attacking opportunities were confined to half chances. Framlingham built their attacks neatly and Shrimpers goalkeeper Brad Cook got down low to make a good diving save. With 10 minutes to go until half time Framlingham made the break through when Nikolay Shopov sent over a looping cross to the far post for James Ross to finish with a clinical volley that gave Cook no chance. Town had edged the first half and deserved their slender lead but Harwich were still well in the game.
Just before the break Framlingham had a player sin binned and so they came out to start the first 8 minutes of the second half with ten men. Harwich pressed hard from the restart but Town survived until they were back to full strength. Cook made another fine diving saving when Town broke away but in the the 60th minute Harwich equalised with a well worked goal, Steve Polley and Alfie Smith initiating the move from which skipper Gareth Heath unselfishly played an astute pass to Joe Knight who took time to measure his shot before hammering the ball into the net. The Shrimpers had lost Matt Geen to a recurrent injury early in the game and now his substitute Robb Pratt also had to retire. Young Harry Tuck came on to fill the gap an was to do well as a midfield attacker. With Heath at his excellent best, Harwich were buzzing now and he played the ball to Luke Mayhew who made a clever, controlled run before shooting into the bottom corner of the net to give the Shrimpers a deserved lead. With 70 minutes gone Harwich and their supporters were walking on air when Reece Harte's pass gave Joe Knight the opportunity to provide the perfect cross for Alfie Smith to dive low to increase the Shrimpers lead with a header. Harwich were determined not to let their two goal advantage slip and doubled up with their tackling to prevent Town staging a revival. Alfie Smith came close to scoring again with a shot from the edge of the penalty area but Town goalkeeper Edyn Cummings pulled off a fine save. The Shrimpers had defended so well that Framlingham could only manage one scoring chance in this half and that was thwarted by Brad Cook getting down well to push the ball out for Ben Hammond to safely clear.
So good was Harwich all round performance that it was impossible to pick a Man of the Match but full back Dan Keeble is due a mention for another sound display after having recently established himself in the starting line-up.
The Shrimpers have only lost once away from home so far this season.
Harwich Team: Brad Cook, Dan Keeble, Reece Harte, Ben Hammond, Jack Wood, Matt Geen, Alfie Smith, Steve Polley, Gareth Heath, Luke Mayhew and Joe Knight. Substitutes: Rob Pratt, Harry Tuck, Owen Rayment and Daryl Eagle.
P.S . We had the pleasure of an added Supporter with former Shrimper Mark Payne on a visit from Australia. After the game Mark came back to our Club to share happy memories. Mark is a neighbour of Shrimpers legend Mickey Johnson down under with their families great friends and their Sons playing as centre backs in the same football team. Mark hopes to take in a couple more Harwich matches before his return and will be at the Club for Tuesday nights cup tie with Basildon Town.