Holland's Dulwich Road pitch passed a morning inspection for the last match of 2024 and attracted a good attendance on a cold, damp afternoon.
From the start, scoring opportunities proved hard to come by with the interest in midfield and both defences strong.
For Harwich, Liam White worked his way forward but was blocked when he reached the penalty area and, from the rebound, Luke Spurling's effort dipped over the crossbar. Play was evenly contested and when the Shrimpers' Louie Bloom (pictured) sent over a dangerous cross White's attempted glancing header went outside the post.
With half an hour gone, after White was tackled, Harwich appeals for a penalty kick were waved away.
Half time came with neither goalkeeper having been seriously tested and the match goalless.
The second half was to be a more lively affair with the teams now producing goalscoring chances.
Holland had the first of these when former Shrimper Ben Sargeant went clear but he could not get his shot on target. Jordan Lartey was closer with a shot on the run that fizzed over the crossbar.
Harwich took the lead in the 65th minute with a well-worked goal. Liam Riley's clever through ball opened up Holland's defence and Bloom pounced to find the net with a good finish.
The Shrimpers' strong contingent of supporters hoped that this would set their team on the path to victory but within 5 minutes Holland were back on terms. It came in the form of a superb shot from the Jaffas' right-back Sonny Carr, who, from more than 20 yards out, curled the ball into the far corner of the net, giving goalkeeper Brad Cook no chance of saving.
With the game reaching the closing stages, Harwich engineered a great chance to win the game. This time it was created by Bloom whose defence-splitting pass found Riley but his shot went outside the post when a fraction closer would have found the net.
At the other end Holland had a chance but Harwich desperately wanted all 3 points and home keeper Toby Hurst dived to save a free kick and also did well to tip over a long-range effort that was dipping under the crossbar.
Elsewhere, league leaders Haverhill Rovers' 1-0 victory over Stanway Pegasus took them 13 points ahead of Harwich and although the Shrimpers have 2 games in hand, at the moment they must concentrate on holding on to their second place, which would bring home advantage in the play-offs.
Harwich team: Brad Cook, Keelan Milburn, Jack Wood, Dan Keeble, Reece Harte, Brad James, Gareth Heath (capt), Alfie Eldridge Liam White, Luke Spurling and Louie Bloom. Substitutes: Liam Riley, Alfie Canning, Alfie Smith (all used), Tyler Sullivan and Greg Rodger (not used).