HARWICH and Parkeston were second best when they beaten 2-0 by title-chasing Great Yarmouth Town, writes TERRY FRANCIS.

Town have their sights set on the automatic promotion spot to the Thurlow Nunn League premier division.

Yarmouth's success this season has brought them a growing band of supporters and Harwich faced a tough task.

The hosts included three strikers in their line-up who before the match had notched up 51 goals between them.

Fifteen minutes had elapsed when the Shrimpers defence managed to block Louie Duffield's fierce shot.

From the resultant corner, Yarmouth had the ball in the net but this was disallowed with the referee having spotted a push.

Harwich had defended well but in attack had not had a sniff on goal and with half an hour gone they lost right-back Alfie Smith when for the second time he suffered a heavy tackle and was replaced by Dan Keeble.

A minute later the Shrimpers defence was caught out by a good cross and Duffield sneaked in to net his 19th goal of the season.

Yarmouth had done the lion's share of the attacking but with half-time approaching, Harwich did do better with efforts on goal from Jack Wood and Danny Garrad.

The second half started with the Bloaters continuing to look dangerous and Shrimpers goalkeeper Brad Cook made a great save when he turned a hot shot from Duffield over the crossbar.

Cook was soon called upon again, this time diving to save a goal bound shot from Mitchell Belmar.

Midway through the half, Harwich came more into the game stringing some neat passing movements together and they created a good chance when Garrad sent over a cross that went begging.

Harwich joint manager Sean Tynan was red carded when he attempted to speed up the return of the ball but the referee ruled that his excursion to the home dugout was carried out in an aggressive manner.

With ten minutes remaining, Yarmouth sealed a deserved victory when the combined efforts of Tyler Sullivan and Cook could not prevent George Couzens embarking on a run from which he wriggled through and from the touchline netted his 18th goal of the campaign.

On a disappointing day for Harwich, a consolation was that they remained in fifth place in the division north league table, with play-off rivals Holbeach and Cornard both losing.

Tomorrow (Saturday) Harwich's first team have no game but their under-23 team entertain league leaders Thetford Town under-23s.

And with the Shrimpers in third spot, this looks an attractive fixture at the Gwinnell and Sons Royal Oak - kick-off is 3pm.