HARWICH & PARKESTON 3
AFC SUDBURY 1

14 July 2007

It’s difficult to read too much into pre-season friendlys, only to say on the evidence of this match, training must be going well for both sides.

The first-half was played at a frenetic pace, the Ryman league outfit having the better of the opening minutes, Heath, Cunningham and Head all going close, but it was a Liam Morley freekick on 10 minutes that broke the deadlock for Harwich finding Matt Stace at the back post to head past a stranded Munson. Sudbury certainly had territorial advantage first-half and they finally made it pay on 40 minutes when a Heath corner was converted by Rowe, honours even at halftime.

Substitutions for the second half, Nash, Hammond, and Wright for Harwich, Tracey for Sudbury changed the complexion of the game. Harwich looked more relaxed on the ball and seized back the initiative on 55 minutes, Meadows and Calver linking well on the right, found Underwood who unleashed a curling shot, that nestled neatly in the corner of the net.
Harwich in the ascendancy felt the possibility of more goals and another duly arrived on 67 minutes, Underwood’s pace beating the offside trap and shot Munson could only parry into the path of Jimmy Chatters to make it 3-1. Wass in the Harwich goal was kept the busier of the two keepers in the final 10 minutes, Sudbury pushing forward to salvage something from the encounter, Heath going agonisingly close with a 20 yard effort that narrowly grazed the post, 3-1 final score.