DEATH, taxes, England losing to Germany, FC Clacton losing penalty shoot-outs and now, seemingly, we can add the Seasiders losing against Hadleigh United to that list of life’s certainties, following Saturday’s game at The Millfield.

While it will always be fondly recognised by those of us who were present on that glorious evening as the scene of one of the club’s greatest-ever triumphs (winning the First Division Knockout Cup in 2009/10), trips to Hadleigh’s home ground have provided us with scant other cause for celebration over the years.

In weather as dismal as our recent record against the Brettsiders, it was the Suffolk club who would again pick up the three points on Saturday, thanks to Danny Thrower’s 82nd-minute penalty.

Hadleigh’s eighth consecutive victory in the fixture means no current opposition has a better record against us and, having kept a clean sheet in the last five of those matches, it is now 489 minutes since we last managed to score a goal.

This season’s return match is on Friday, April 1.

I wonder how many people will be finishing work late that evening ….

The reserves didn’t fare much better on Saturday either and a day to forget ended in a 6-1 defeat to Melbourne Sports as Russ Mead’s men exited the Essex Junior Cup at the third-round stage.

There was better news, however, for our under-21s, with Charlie Gibbs scoring both goals as they maintained their unbeaten start and extended their lead at the top of the EOFL Under-21 division to eight points, thanks to a 2-1 home win over Manford Way.

Ian Scott’s side will look to keep that impressive run going this Saturday, when they travel to take on Redbridge.

There’s no game for the first team this Saturday, due to Ipswich Wanderers’ involvement in the FA Vase, but the reserves are in action, at home to Colchester Athletic, so please pop along and support them if you can.

The next first team game is at Long Melford in nine days time.

Come on you Seasiders!