If anyone deserved New Year honours surely it was the boys who took us through to the 2nd round of the Amateur Cup last Saturday when we triumphed over Harwich & Parkeston 3-1 in one of the most gruelling and exhausting matches seen on this ground.

The way our lads stuck to their task after losing David Hyde twelve minutes before the interval was a revelation and it speaks much for their physical fitness and staying power that in the dying seconds of the game they were able to launch an attack to snatch a third goal to make the game safe.

Harwich may have had more of the game territorially but were never dangerous such was the power of our defence.

The tension mounted as the game progressed. We knew another goal would ensure victory. Harwich, on the other hand, tried desperately for an equaliser feeling that if it came our defence might then crack.

The climax came in the last five minutes when Harwich threw everyone but the centre-half into attack. Shot after shot was rained in from a ten yard radius but somehow John Swannell's yellow jersey seemed to be everywhere and the rest of our boys could do nothing but smother the ball to prevent it crossing the line.

At last a long clearance to David Swain, who cleverly took control in the mud, a neat turn to Laurie Churchill, who had moved into the middle, and the next second the game was won with the crowd of almost 1700 on their feet in appreciation of a fine, sporting, hard fought, well-won game.