HARWICH ON TOP BUT HAVE TO SETTLE FOR A POINT AT WHITTLESEY

REPORT BY COLIN ROGERS

On an open pitch with a blustery wind blowing, Harwich enjoyed the best of the first half.
With 20 minutes gone, Harwich had the first of their many opportunities when a good shot by Luke Mayhew was well saved by goalkeeper Danny Fowler.
Five minutes later Alfie Canning's shot saw Fowler in action again, this time getting down well to save.
With half an hour gone Harwich deservedly took the lead with a good individual goal. Gareth Heath's pass found Canning who created space for himself, before running through to tuck his shot neatly into the bottom corner of the net.
Two minutes later Mitchell Knight was through and in a one-on-one situation with Fowler but blasted his shot over the crossbar.
With half time approaching, Canning linked up with Danny Garrad but from the opening created Luke Mayhew's shot was tipped around the post.
Three minutes of the half remained when a corner was powerfully headed home for Whittlesey's equaliser, scored against the run of play.
Whittlesey were a direct side, as proved by their best scoring chances coming from set pieces, but before the break there was still one more opportunity for Harwich from a move that saw Liam White, Canning and Heath combine before Garrad fired wide.
The pattern continued after the break and with only a minute gone in the second half Garrad fired a chance straight at the keeper.
Whittlesey did have a long shot go just wide of the Shrimpers goal before White set up Mayhew but again the shot was too straight.
With 65 minutes gone, Garrad flicked the ball to Mayhew and this time Fowler was forced to make a top-class stop, pushing the Shrimpers leading scorer's shot out for a corner.
Five minutes later Harwich were rewarded with their second goal when Heath sent Canning away and again he scored a well-taken goal, placing his shot wide of Fowler.
With 75 minutes gone, substitute Harwich substitute Shaun Kioussis saw his excellent free kick pushed out at the expense of another corner kick.
White fired over when well placed but with five minutes of normal time remaining he was unlucky not to settle the issue when his shot struck the post.
Then in the 90th minute Whittlesey grabbed an equaliser with a header from a cross and three minutes into added time came close to an unlikely winner when Shrimpers full back Reece Harte was forced to clear off the line on what was his 100th appearance for the club.
Harwich will look back on all those chances but then think that in a week of travelling on two long journeys, 4 points is not a bad haul to take back home.
Harwich team: Brad Cook, Dan Keeble, Mitch Knight, Jack Wood, Reece Harte, Tyler Sullivan, Gareth Heath, Liam White, Luke Mayhew, Alfie Canning and Danny Garrad: Substitutes: Shaun Kioussis, Brandon Rusby, Ben Sargeant and Charlie Stoneley.