Newham came flying out of the blocks, taking the game to Harwich from the first whistle with relentless attacking intent. Despite the early pressure, Harwich stood firm — defending in numbers and working well as a unit to frustrate the visitors.
Against the run of play, it was Harwich who opened the scoring just five minutes in. A well-delivered cross found Luke Mayhew unmarked in the box. With Newham keeper Harvey Simson rushing out to close the angle, Mayhew kept his composure and slotted and took it around Simson and calmly into an empty net to give the hosts an early lead.
With 14 minutes on the clock, Newham nearly found their equaliser. Remarle Lawrence created space brilliantly out on the right wing before delivering a cross into the box. The ball found Chuks Uzor lurking in the six-yard area, but unfortunately, he couldn’t keep his effort down — getting underneath the ball and sending it high over the bar.
Harwich came close to doubling their lead shortly after, as a dangerous cross was whipped in from the left. The delivery beat a diving Harvey Simson in the Newham goal, but thankfully for the visitors, Jonathan Ogunsanya was alert to the danger — reacting quickly to clear the ball and keep Newham within touching distance.
As the first half progressed, Newham finished the stronger side, growing in confidence and piling on the pressure in search of an equaliser. However, Harwich & Parkeston remained resolute, standing tall and making life difficult for the visitors with disciplined defending and strong organisation.
Despite Newham’s efforts, Harwich looked solid and deserving of the 1-0 lead they carried into the half-time break.
Harwich & Parkeston came out strong and fast in the second half, and if not for Harvey Simson’s quick reaction off his line, it could have been 2-0. A well-played ball split the defence, but Harvey was sharp, rushing out to block the shot and keep his side in the game — although it wouldn’t have counted, as the linesman’s flag was already up.
Just seven minutes into the 2nd half, Harwich & Parkeston were through again, but a vital intervention from Simon Omope — stretching out a long leg to clear the danger — prevented what would have been a clear goal-scoring opportunity. Newham found themselves under early pressure but held firm with some solid defending.
Newham were still struggling to find their rhythm going forward in the second half — that is, until the 55th minute. George Rankin controlled the ball well in the middle of the pitch and threaded a superb through ball into the path of Chucks Uzor. Uzor drove forward, beat the defenders, but just as he was about to pull the trigger, a last-ditch tackle from a Harwich & Parkeston defender sent the ball out for a corner.
Still level after a crucial knock from a Harwich & Parkeston defender denied Chuks Uzor the chance to smash it home! Newham are growing into the game now, pushing hard to find a way back, Moments later, Newham threatened again — a dangerous cross from the left flashed across the box with two Newham players attacking it. A touch from either would surely have put the ball in the net, but Harwich & Parkeston were fortunate to see it run all the way through for a goal kick.
The pressure finally paid off with 10 minutes left on the clock. A handball was spotted by the referee, and from the quick free-kick Ioan Berende’s shot was blocked — but 17-year-old Enzo Sanchez was there to pounce, scoring his first goal for Newham on his debut to make it 1-1. time left to push for a winner!
It just wasn’t to be a winning start for the new management team today. Despite Newham pushing hard for a winner, Harwich & Parkeston made it difficult by sitting back and keeping plenty of men behind the ball. In the end, both sides had to settle for a point — a game that really could have gone either way.