07/11/2026 – REPORT – Harwich & Parkeston FC “A” (6) versus Tiptree Jobserve FC (1)
ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE
DIVISION TWO.
HARWICH & PARKESTON FC “A”. 6. TIPTREE JOBSERVE FC. 1.
Date: 07th November 2026.
Venue: Harwich & Dovercourt High School, Dovercourt. (4G pitch)
A bright, calm afternoon was a welcome feature for this Division Two league fixture between eleventh placed Harwich & Parkeston FC “A” and fourth placed Tiptree Jobserve FC, both teams were elevated from the old Division Three before the close-season re-structure. The home team were looking to build on last weeks drubbing of Boxford Rovers, but prior to that had been soundly beaten on three occasions, the team had in fact scored in every match to date whereas todays visitors had only lost twice and sat fourth in the table.
Today’s match official was Timothy Moffatt, an experienced Army referee and true to form the two minutes silence was impeccable from everyone in attendance, well done, he would be assisted by Club Assistants, and they did a good job throughout.
Harwich & Parkeston “A” kicked off, I was a bit surprised to see the home keeper wearing an all-blue jersey which was similar in colour to the blue and white halved shirts worn by the visitors! Allen for the home team had an early shot which flew narrowly wide, but it set the tone for the early minutes of the match. Bedford fouled Allen, then Kirwan fouled Carter, thirty yards out, Bedford defended well against Winter, the home team were pushing for an early goal, Woodward (L) sent in a fine cross to Hodgson, but Kirwan cleared the danger. Davis fouled Winter, deep in the home penalty area then Wilson fouled Scott, there were too many fouls in these opening minutes as both teams tried to dominate, a first corner for Tiptree Jobserve was taken by Kirwan but straight to keeper, Eagle and from his long clearance Hodgson chased down the ball before trying a curling goal-bound effort that keeper Field saved to his left side. Whilst the game was open and fast there was no pattern and there had been few chances of note, a corner taken by Hodgson was struck parallel to the goal-line and not for the first time drifted out for a goal-kick. Scott for Tiptree Jobserve was prepared to run with the ball and when he found space just inside the penalty area, his shot was blocked by Hymus. Harwich & Parkeston “A” opened the scoring on eleven minutes, LOGAN WOODWARD chased forward onto a defensive clearance, his first shot on the run was saved by keeper, Field but the follow up was despatched into the back of the net. Harwich & Parkeston “A” now held the initiative and pushed forward again, another Hodgson corner was cleared, then Woodward (L) picked up the ball on the half-way line and drove forward to gain a corner off of Drysdale. Wilson took aim from just outside the penalty area, just wide this time, then Hodgson saw his shot deflected for another corner.
With fifteen minutes played, the home team were on top but Tiptree Jobserve were giving the ball away to easily, then leaving gaps from where Harwich & Parkeston “A” were taking shots almost at will, when Scott found Drysdale, he had a shot for the visitors but home keeper, Eagle, saved with an outstretched foot. Kirwan fouled Woodward (L), Wilson took the free kick but cleared the high catch fencing behind the goal, but when Woodward (L) was brought down by Whitbread just on the “D” up-stepped WILLIAM WILSON to drive the ball into the back of the net past the four-man defensive wall, giving keeper, Field no chance to save. When a poor and uncharacteristic back pass from Noonan let in Davies, he rounded the advancing keeper, Eagle and sent the ball goalwards where Hymus blocked the effort six yards out, great defending. Woodward (M) and Drysdale had a bit of “handbag” action when they tussled for along clearance from keeper, Eagle, a stern warning was enough and play, despite numerous interruptions for free kicks, continued.
Tiptree Jobserve forward, Davies and home keeper, Eagle, both big players, had a spat of their own, both were spoken too, perhaps lucky not to receive a yellow card, but good refereeing in my opinion, it was not that sort of game. Woodward (L) down the right side was eager to show how quick he is whether with the ball or not, his pace earned yet another corner off Drysdale, then at the other end Davies and Drysdale forced a corner off Hymus. The home team increased their lead just after the thirty-minute mark, again the long ball was used but LOGAN WOODWARD outstripped all defenders to place the ball confidently past, advancing keeper, Field. Minutes later and Woodward (M) forced keeper, Field into another fine save at the near post, Woodward (L) then laid the ball back to his twin brother, Woodward (M), this time the effort flew wide, home captain, Carter made a fine tackle on Scott when he threatened to break through. The home team kept pressing forward and Allen was just beaten to a though ball by keeper, Field who was fifteen yards outside his penalty area and as the half-time whistle sounded the home team were good value for their three-nil half-time lead.
HALF-TIME: 3 – 0.
Tiptree Jobserve made a triple substitution at the second half restart, off went, Davies, Longman and Haylock with Brooker-Cooper, Cooper (I) and Cansell being sent on, Allen broke through from an error by Kirwan, keeper, Field came out and Drysdale reacted quickest to head the goal-bound ball clear. Within two minutes and Cooper (D) was sent on to replace the injured Kirwan, Woodward (L) put a heavy challenge in, on Ponder, and received a warning from the referee. Winter fouled Cooper (D), Scott, took the free kick placing the ball just over the cross bar, Whitbread fouled his opposite number Allen, bit silly, that one, and the floodlights came on. On fifty-three minutes the home team removed Allen and sent on James, another fine free kick taken by Scott, looked destined for the back of the net but keeper, Eagle nonchalantly palmed the dipping ball over the cross bar for a corner. Tiptree Jobserve had started better this half with more impetus, Prior found Scott, whose pass inside to Whitbread was scooped over the cross bar, Wilson fouled Cansell, Scott took the free kick, Whitbread rose at the far post only to head wide. Smith and Ponder had a tussle for the ball and when the ball broke free Woodward (M) put a left footed effort just wide with the help of a deflection.
Right on the hour mark, Tiptree Jobserve pulled a goal back, Whitbread found Scott and from his left footed cross, CARTER CANSELL headed home off the foot of keeper Eagle and the near post, so is a fightback on! Scott and Cansell worked the ball down the left side and Woodward (M) picked up a caution for a poor challenge on Cooper (D). Scott, who else, took the direct free kick, hitting Hymus in the defensive wall and Cansell was caught offside in the follow up attack. Cooper (I) showed some neat footwork just outside the penalty area but Hymus made a fine block before any shot could be made, Woodward (L) took on Drysdale to gain a corner which was cleared however, Brooker-Cooper fouled Carter just near the half-way line, keeper, Eagle took the free kick with Drysdale heading clear but only to Woodward (L) who headed wide from close range. Harwich & Parkeston “A” increased their lead on seventy minutes, and a fine goal too, Woodward (M) tackled Cooper (I) down near the corner flag and drove forward down the left side, he passed the ball on to Hodgson who ran on beating two defenders before forcing keeper, Field to save, the ball ran free and GABRIEL HODGSON followed up to place the ball into the empty net.
A fifth goal followed on seventy-five minutes, when the ball was played forward James, he was faced up by Ponder, a turn to the right put JACK JAMES at an advantage and he ran on to score, from the restart, Scott got around Bryne and hit a fine left footed effort that keeper Eagle seemed to push onto the crossbar to be cleared, shame really as Scott deserved a goal as he had not stopped running and prompting all game and Noonan had to sweep up again when Scott tried to set up Cansell. The home team made another player change with Windred taking the place of Wilson with James clipping the top of the cross bar, minutes later. Carter was replaced by Dare with ten minutes remaining and one final change happened when Smith replaced Hodgson, there was still time for one more goal, inevitably the chance fell to LOGAN WOODWARD who completed his hat-trick, for the second week in a row.
FULL TIME: 6 – 1.
The score line suggests that Harwich & Parkeston “A” beat a poor side, far from it, Tiptree Jobserve did not cave in and tried throughout, they had little luck when going forward and the home team dominated when scoring chances were there for the taking. Tiptree Jobserve, drop one place but Harwich & Parkeston “A” move up two places.
Turning to my choice of Star player, for Tiptree Jobserve, Scott was their best player, for the home team, a number, of players played well but with three goals it’s hard not to give it to Logan Woodward, who was a handful throughout.
Teams:
HARWICH & PARKESTON FC “A”:
Colours: Grey, Black Shorts and Black Socks.
Team:
Sean Eagle., Mace Woodward., Bailey Hymus., Tom Noonan., Luke Bryne., William Wilson., Max Carter (C)., Liam Winter., Gabriel Hodgson., Thomas Allen., Logan Woodward.
Manager: Michael Carter.
Used Substitutes: Jack James., Harry Windred., Benjamin Smith., Lewis Dare.
Unused Substitutes: Michael Carter.
TIPTREE JOBSERVE FC:
Colours: Blue & White halved Shirts, Blue Shorts and Blue Socks.
Team:
Connor Field., Daniel Prior., Adam Bedford (C)., Lewis Ponder., William Whitbread., Finlay Kirwan., Joshua Longman., Brandan Drysdale., Sutton Davies., Zachary Haylock.
Manager: Jordan Vidal.
Used Substitutes: Darrion Cooper., Iron Cooper., Carter Cansell., Jermarion Brooker-Cooper.
MATCH OFFICIAL:
Referee: Timothy MOFFATT.
STAR PLAYER: Logan WOODWARD (HARWICH & PARKESTON FC “A”).
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