HARWICH

Harwich suffered there 1st defeat of the season to a very well organised Brantham side, once again Harwich started slowly and this time they were punished going a goal behind within ten minutes the Brantham striker scoring from a set piece after being allowed to drift into the box unmarked to take a well taken headed goal. Harwich still struggled to find a rhythm to there game unable to cope with Brantham's game plan of having two banks of 4 behind the ball when possible a very well worked out tactic, the prolific Ollie Mann working hard but against his old club who knew his strengths found it very difficult to create scoring opportunity's. Harwich equaliser came from the tenacious Luke Good in the Harwich midfield winning a header in midfield of which Andy Hammett latched onto and played in Dom Warren who finished with style. Harwich suffered from some very officious refereeing seeing players booked for no real reason's and the second half was played in the same vein, Harwich stifled on the left hand side with play breaking down to easy, and no creativity leaving Patch Brothers playing the free role in Brantham's midfield with way to much space down the flanks to run at Harwich causing all sorts of problems, the eventual Brantham winner came from a long high clearance which was not dealt with at all by Harwich who failed in three attempts to clear the ball and it fell to the Brantham striker who finished very well.
Harwich huffed and puffed for the last 20 minutes and probably created enough chances to get back into the game but it wasn't to be. Credit must be given to the Harrison brothers keeper Elliot and Dan at right back, also the pairing of Luke Good and Phil Taylor in the centre of midfield who worked tirelessly throughout. This sets up next Tuesday's league game away to Brantham giving the chance for Harwich to regain the local derby bragging rights, but the must work harder against a very well organised Brantham team who look a good bet for success this season.

Well done to the under 18's players Reece Harris, Sam Eldridge and Lee Peacock who where missing tonight playing for Essex under 18's away to Norfolk, the game being played at Fakenham final score 1-1

or through another pair of eyes

Brantham came to the Oak with the intention of frustrating Harwich's free scoring youngsters and ended the evening by progressing into the next round of the League Cup.
The game started badly for the Harwich as the left side of their defence assumed a long ball was going harmlessly out of play, and then failed to react when it didn't, allowing a free cross and header from which Brantham scored.
The visitors, buoyed by their early goal, set about defending their lead with two banks of four defenders. When Harwich did penetrate the resilient defence, notably down the right flank, the final cross invariably found the hands of the confident away keeper.
Harwich did break through just before the interval when a beautifully weighted through ball from Andy Hammett allowed Dom Warren to race clear and fire the equaliser under the advancing keeper.
After the break the game was played predominantly in the Brantham half and Harwich were unlucky not to take the lead when Ollie Mann was adjudged to have nudged a defender a split second before Dom Warren smashed the ball into the net.The winner, when it came, was the result of a long up and under from the visitors defence, this time the referee decided the physical challenge by the Brantham attacker didn't constitute a foul, allowing a confident strike into the roof of the net to decide this close fought game