Suffolk Seasiders prove too strong - Martin Oswick's report (From Clacton and Frinton Gazette)

Suffolk Seasiders prove too strong - Martin Oswick's report

9:23am Wednesday 24th October 2012 in Sport

FELIXSTOWE AND WALTON 4

FC CLACTON 1

Thurlow Nunn League premier division

IT was an away day horror show for Clacton as they slumped to defeat at Felixstowe.

Kyelan Marvell’s wonderful 25-yard strike was a rare bright spot but scant consolation on a disappointing afternoon.

Felixstowe striker Ben Cranfield ended the day with a hat-trick but could easily have had double that.

He missed a glorious chance on 18 minutes when Ryan Charles clipped a ball in from the left which found him totally unmarked but he could only head over.

Just to compound his frustration, Cranfield was then denied when a low ball was squared for him to tap in from close range - only to be ruled out, possibly incorrectly, by an offside flag.

Clacton missed a great chance of their own after half an hour when Jake Clowsley did well to retrieve a mis-hit shot and touch the ball across the goalmouth for Tom Austin, who skewed his effort wide with the goal gaping.

They were made to pay four minutes later as Clacton failed to clear their lines and the ball was slipped through to Charles, who drew Ed Wootten and then slid the ball across for Cranfield to open the scoring.

Just before half-time, a free-kick was only cleared to the left corner of the area and Ryan Hart tested Andrew Plummer with a good drive.

But in injury time, Felixstowe scored a real bodyblow as Clacton again failed to clear and this time the ball was moved right with Cranfield ghosting in unmarked to head home the cross and leave Clacton with a second-half mountain to climb.

The Suffolk Seasiders increased their lead 12 minutes after the interval when a lovely move down the right saw Lewis Pemberton get to the byline and cut back for Jamie Cole to smash home.

And on the hour mark it was 4-0 as another right-wing cross saw Cranfield complete his hat-trick with ease.

Clacton finally began to move the ball around with purpose in the latter stages and they gained some reward with just over ten minutes left as Liam Springett rolled a free-kick into the path of Marvell, who smashed in a rising shot from 25 yards.

It was the best goal of the game but proved a meagre consolation as Felixstowe leapfrogged Clacton to leave the Essex Seasiders bottom of the table.