Ambitious Hullbridge made their intentions clear when, straight from the kick-off, they surged forward threatening to score and Shrimpers goalkeeper Will Healy and his defenders did well to thwart them.
Hullbridge continued to press and took the lead in the 18th minute when they won the ball in midfield for Oliver Spooner to rocket his shot from 25 yards into the net.
Harwich gradually fought their way back with Jake Gordon, seeing the keeper a yard off his line, trying a lob which the back-pedalling custodian saved. Next, Liam White played a smart, short free kick to Gordon whose shot was diverted over the crossbar.
Early in the second half, Harwich lost the experienced Charlie Canham to an injury and this brought together the young pairing of Oakley McNair (pictured) and Jenson Goode, who were both to have excellent games at the heart of the defence.
The game had evened up, with Gordon a big influence for Harwich with his footballing know-how and spot-on passing ability.
In the 70th minute, Harwich were rewarded for their sterling efforts when, from a wide position, Gordon pin-pointed his free-kick for the on-coming McNair to equalise with a perfectly placed, glancing header - his first senior league goal for the Shrimpers.
Harwich came close to taking the lead when, from another Gordon free kick, Joe Knight perhaps got too much power into his header and with the keeper beaten, the ball missed the target.
The excitement was intense now, with Hullbridge desperately trying to get back in front, but Harwich managers Matt Carmichael and Sean Tynan shrewdly used their substitutes' fresh legs to ensure that the Shrimpers continued to hold their own and eventually take home a well-deserved point.

Harwich team: Will Healy, Rory Harman, Charlie Canham, Oakley McNair, Jeremiah Ajisafe, Tobi Dehinsilu, Liam White, Alfie Eldridge, Louie Bloom, Joe Knight and Jake Gordon. Substitutes: Jenson Goode, Alfie Canning, Omari Obwoya, Josh Hawkins and Tiwa Odufuye (all used)