ALRESFORD COLNE RANGERS RESERVES 3

HARWICH AND PARKESTON 4

Essex and Suffolk Border League division one

HARWICH produced a stirring second-half performance to snatch victory and stay third in the division.

Their eventual winner came in the 87th minute.

The Shrimpers were facing a strong wind and found it tough going during the first half.

With Alresford taking advantage of the conditions to press forward, it was not until the 18th minute that the Shrimpers had a scoring chance when Robbie Marks robbed advancing keeper James Barker.

However, he lobbed the ball inches wide of the unguarded goal.

Seven minutes later, Alresford took the lead when Jake Brown scored from an acute angle.

Within a minute, they added a second when Wayne Spere scored from distance to surprise the Shrimpers defence.

Harwich got themselves back in contention in the 43rd minute, when Darren Bethell scored from 20 yards.

However, within a minute, Carl Joiner spotted Harwich keeper Sam Felgate off his line and made it 3-1.

Harwich had their turn to take advantage of the wind in the second half and it was essential they raised their game.

They started well and when goalkeeper Barker slipped after making a clearance, Bethell lobbed the ball inches over.

Robbie May instigated a smart Harwich move and this time it was Ashley Wood whose effort went inches off-target.

Bethell was showing his quality and, in the 65th minute, he reduced the arrears with another excellent finish. May then placed a corner perfectly for Marks to glance his header into the net and level the scores at 3-3.

Harwich had been superb in this half and Bethell was denied a hat-trick when Barker tipped out his shot for a corner.

In a thrilling end to the game, Wood and Luis Reynolds then combined to create a chance for teenager Luke Shepherd, enjoying an impressive showing, to score his first goal for the club.