BackSat 06 Dec 2025 ·  Premier Division
Sporting Bengal United FC
Harwich & Parkeston
0
2
HARWICH WIN 3 IMPORTANT POINTS AGAINST SPORTING BENEGAL
Terry Francis6 Dec - 23:13
THE SHRIMPERS' QUEST TO AMASS ENOUGH POINTS AT THE EARLIEST MOMENT TO ENSURE A SAFE LEAGUE POSITION RECEIVED ANOTHER BOOST ON SATURDAY
Oakley McNair's late call-off through illness meant that Harwich were left short of a recognised central defender and Joe Knight (pictured) came to the rescue to play his first full 90 minutes of the season.
Harwich started purposefully with Tiwa Odufuye initiating the move from which Shaun Avis' shot from close range went inches the wrong side of the post.
The Shrimpers looked the more incisive team and took the lead in the 24th minute when Gareth Heath's free kick could not be cleared by the home defence and a delighted Knight found the net with a clinically taken shot.
Ten minutes later, Harwich thought that they had scored again when Odufuye followed up to net but the assistant referee flagged for an offside in the build-up. Luke Mayhew created another opportunity for the Shrimpers but Alfie Canning's shot was well saved by goalkeeper Kenny Jones.
With half time approaching, Sporting created a golden opportunity to equalise but Samson Unandu chose to square the ball when in a one-on-one situation with Harwich goalkeeper Brad Cook and the opportunity was lost.
Early in the second half Mayhew had a shot which went inches past the post.
Sporting had brought on substitute Jaiden Odle. His long throw-ins were testing the Harwich defence but central defenders Knight and Tyler Sullivan were proving pillars of strength.
Midway through the half, Harwich scored an excellent second goal in which full-back Tom Watkins was instrumental. He exchanged passes with Mayhew, making a run up the wing before crossing the ball to the far post where Avis was perfectly positioned to shoot home from close range.
Odufuye was unlucky not to score a third goal for Harwich when his shot hit the crossbar.
Cook, in the Shrimpers goal, had been called upon mainly to deal with dangerous crosses, but late in the game, he had to dive and spread his body to block a goalbound shot from Unandu.
In difficult circumstances, manager Matt Carmichael's plans had been well executed and at the end of the match the Shrimpers players came over to celebrate with their supporters.
Harwich team: Brad Cook, Tom Watkins, Joe Knight, Tyler Sullivan, Reece Harte, Gareth Heath (captain), Alfie Canning, Louie Bloom, Luke Mayhew, Tiwa Odufuye and Shaun Avis. Substitutes: Zachary Pedro and Liam White (both used), Jeremiah Aijsafe, Alfie Eldridge and Alex Pryke (not used).
Harwich started purposefully with Tiwa Odufuye initiating the move from which Shaun Avis' shot from close range went inches the wrong side of the post.
The Shrimpers looked the more incisive team and took the lead in the 24th minute when Gareth Heath's free kick could not be cleared by the home defence and a delighted Knight found the net with a clinically taken shot.
Ten minutes later, Harwich thought that they had scored again when Odufuye followed up to net but the assistant referee flagged for an offside in the build-up. Luke Mayhew created another opportunity for the Shrimpers but Alfie Canning's shot was well saved by goalkeeper Kenny Jones.
With half time approaching, Sporting created a golden opportunity to equalise but Samson Unandu chose to square the ball when in a one-on-one situation with Harwich goalkeeper Brad Cook and the opportunity was lost.
Early in the second half Mayhew had a shot which went inches past the post.
Sporting had brought on substitute Jaiden Odle. His long throw-ins were testing the Harwich defence but central defenders Knight and Tyler Sullivan were proving pillars of strength.
Midway through the half, Harwich scored an excellent second goal in which full-back Tom Watkins was instrumental. He exchanged passes with Mayhew, making a run up the wing before crossing the ball to the far post where Avis was perfectly positioned to shoot home from close range.
Odufuye was unlucky not to score a third goal for Harwich when his shot hit the crossbar.
Cook, in the Shrimpers goal, had been called upon mainly to deal with dangerous crosses, but late in the game, he had to dive and spread his body to block a goalbound shot from Unandu.
In difficult circumstances, manager Matt Carmichael's plans had been well executed and at the end of the match the Shrimpers players came over to celebrate with their supporters.
Harwich team: Brad Cook, Tom Watkins, Joe Knight, Tyler Sullivan, Reece Harte, Gareth Heath (captain), Alfie Canning, Louie Bloom, Luke Mayhew, Tiwa Odufuye and Shaun Avis. Substitutes: Zachary Pedro and Liam White (both used), Jeremiah Aijsafe, Alfie Eldridge and Alex Pryke (not used).
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