HARWICH & PARKESTON  1
NEWMARKET  1
29 March 2008

Only the best efforts of volunteers clearing water from the pitch enabled the game to go ahead. Heavy underfoot it was Newmarket that pressed their intentions on the match as early as the 7^th minute; Mark Angel converting from the spot after Matt Stace had adjudged to have fouled in the area. Stunned into action, Harwich went on the offensive, Defeo and Page both having half chances, but it took until the 27^th minute for the home side to restore parity; Holyoak deliberately handling the ball as Page was set to score, Holyoak was dismissed, Calver thumped the resultant penalty high into the net. Both Vowden and Angel were both yellow carded as the visitors lost their discipline, shortly after the equaliser, however Harwich were unable to capitalize on their man advantage, Defeo’s cheeky forty yard strike slapping the Newmarket upright the closest the home side came to extending their lead before the break.

A scrappy second half saw Newmarket work hard and had their chances to take the lead, a lung busting run from Steve Bell finally thwarted by shot stopper Wootten and Angel’s scuffed shot that skewed wide of the post. Harwich struggled, to play into the wind and despite their share of possession, Paytner in the Newmarket goal was rarely tested though a point probably more beneficial for the home side at this time of the season.