HARWICH and Parkeston ran out 1-0 winners at Swaffham Town, writes COLIN ROGERS.

A sin bin and a sending off made it a tough assignment for the Shrimpers, in Thurlow Nunn League first division north.

But having played for 70 minutes with ten men, they overcame the odds to come home with a victory.

Harwich kicked off playing against the considerable slope on the pitch but came close to opening their account after five minutes when Joe Knight's shot went inches over the crossbar.

Next, from Luke Mayhew's corner, Will Crisell's header went just over the home goal.

It was proving to be a feisty first half and with 20 minutes gone Harwich were reduced to ten men when skipper Mayhew was sin binned for a verbal offence.

This saw Swaffham come more into the game and Shrimpers goalkeeper Brad Cook was forced to pull off a good save to prevent them scoring.

Mayhew had just returned from his ten-minute punishment when worse was to follow with Greg Rodger receiving a straight red card for a late challenge and Harwich were again back to ten men, this time for the remaining duration of the match.

Harwich had a good scoring chance before half-time but Alfie Canning's shot was well blocked by a defender and the teams went in at the break with the match still goal less.

Swaffham started the second half on the offensive and hit the post with a drive struck from the edge of the penalty box.

Town's second big chance of the match was again thwarted by the alert Cook, this time making an excellent block in a one on one situation.

Harwich came back and from Mayhew's cross Canning's header was cleared off the goal line.

Shrimpers boss Matt Carmichael then made the first of his three substitutions, bringing on Danny Garrad who immediately skimmed Town's crossbar with a near miss shot.

Harwich's all-important goal came in the 70th minute with a well-worked move, Knight playing in Garrad who crossed for Mayhew to side foot the ball home at the far post.

Swaffham tested the Harwich defence with high balls into the goalmouth but these threats were well dealt with by central defenders Crisell and Dan Keeble.

With five players unavailable for this match Harwich had been forced to re-shuffle their line up and were well served in midfield by Tyler Sullivan and George Tuck.

The three points earned takes Harwich to sixth in the league table and tomorrow (Saturday) the Shrimpers entertain Gorleston Reserves, who sit one place below them, at the Gwinnell & Sons Royal Oak, kick off 3pm.