Bottom-placed Harwich started the New Year in style as chairman Tony Armstrong took the helm for the second time this season.

Michael Brothers scored the only goal of the game 20 minutes from time, and the three points leaves the Shrimpers just a point from moving off the bottom of the league.

Armstrong was appointed caretaker manager following the departure of player-manager Steve McGavin last week and was delighted with his side's performance.

"I was really pleased with the result and the effort from all the players. They had to paddle in heavy conditions but it really was a magnificent team effort," Armstrong told the Evening Gazette.

The acting manager brought in defender Lee Neale as a makeshift striker and also brought back to the side Matt Stace, Darryl Eagle and Adrian Armstrong.

But it was the Shrimpers keeper Nathan Munson that received high-praise from the chairman he played a massive part in sustaining only the club's second clean sheet of the season.

Armstrong: "Our goalkeeper was magnificent and kept us in the game. After we scored Norwich threw everything at us but Nathan was not to be beaten.

"Michael Brothers was a handful for their defence all afternoon. He hit the crossbar in the first half and fired a second-half effort at the keeper when he was one-on-one.

"He must have thought that it wasn't his day but then a defensive error let him in and he scored from 12-yards."

The only black mark on Harwich's performance was the dismissal of Adrian Armstrong eight minutes from time for his second bookable offence.

Published Monday, January 6, 2003

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