UPMINSTER II 1

CLACTON 0

East Men’s League division three SE

CLACTON huffed and puffed but could not break through a solid defence.

Upminster, in contrast, made the most of their few chances.

On another day, Stephen Moriarty would have had a hat-trick.

However, he saw efforts fly over the bar, just wide or found the keeper in the right place at the right time.

Shane Walker also had two great strikes at goal – one clipping the bar and the other well-saved.

Clacton keeper Michael Hook pulled off a number of one-on-one saves to keep the scores level in the first half.

Upminster counter-attacked well and when the visitors lost possession, they took their chance to make it 1-0.

Clacton dominated in the second half, but the home side were organised and gave their keeper plenty of protection.

John Hambrook provided lots of attacking passes, Rob Lukey was solid at centre-back and Kieron Parkes and Chris Brett supported the willing running and tenacious play of Russell Measor.

James Mead disrupted Upminster’s counter-attacking play, with Tom Jones and Carl Parkes creating forward moves and man-of-the-match Mat Timms showing composure and consistency.

Elliot Steele was unlucky with his jinking runs into the circle and Sam Jenner put in some great crosses from the right.

Clacton dropped to second in the league, with the top six separated by only three points.

They look forward to hosting fifth-placed East London, just a point behind them, at Vista Road on Saturday (2pm).