Harwich and Parkeston beat Needham Market Reserves

The Shrimpers were quick out of the blocks at the Gwinnell & Sons Royal Oak.

New signing Louie Bloom fired over a dangerous cross which goalkeeper Roan Tucker did well to dive and push out for a corner.

A couple of minutes later, Needham Market mounted a good attack which ended with a shot going just past the post.

Harwich took the lead with a super finish from Mayhew, who hammered in a shot which Tucker had no chance of saving.

The Shrimpers also fielded another player making his debut, Charlie Canham, on loan from Brantham, and he played in Danny Garrad, whose shot just cleared the crossbar.

The youthful Needham team were playing neat football and enjoyed a lengthy spell of possession but did not really threaten the Harwich goal during this period.

Midway through the half, Harwich returned to the attack and Tucker produced another fine save to push out Mayhew's shot and soon after Mayhew featured once more, crossing for Bloom to head just over.

Shrimpers skipper Gareth Heath was also in good form and tried a long shot that fizzed inches past the post.

Five minutes before half-time, Needham built up a smart attack but finished blazing the ball over the crossbar.

Belying their lowly league position and trailing by only a single goal, Needham continued to give Harwich a run for their money in the second half.

They came close to an equaliser with a lob when goalkeeper Brad Cook was forced to advance but Jack Wood came to the Shrimpers' rescue to clear off the goal-line at the expense of a corner.

Play was end to end, with Harwich having an opportunity when Idress Namisi played in Garrad whose shot went into the side netting.

Brad James also went close whilst at the other end, the Shrimpers defence was forced to make another goal-line clearance.

Young Needham goalkeeper Tucker had been impressive with his immaculate handling and distribution.

But midway through the second half, he made his only mistake of the match with a misplaced clearance from which the alert Mayhew spotted him out of position and netted Harwich's all-important second goal with a precise finish.

Harwich then put the icing on the cake with their third goal, Namisi and Alfie Canning combining with Bloom, to create the chance from which Mayhew competed his hat-trick with an unstoppable shot into the top corner of the net.

There was an appreciative crowd of 218 at the match and Harwich will be hoping for another big gate to cheer them on Saturday when they entertain fellow promotion chasers from the Southern Division of the league, Rayleigh Town, in an attractive FA Vase tie at the Gwinnell and Sons Royal Oak, kick-off 3pm.