MISSED chances proved costly as FC Clacton drew 1-1 at home to Hadleigh United on Tuesday night.

Joe Heron's 18th-minute goal gave them a half-time lead at the Austin Arena.

Hadleigh were then reduced to ten men on the hour-mark, following a second yellow card for Darcy D'eath.

But despite creating enough chances to give themselves a cushion, it was the visitors who scored a dramatic late equaliser.

Josh Cheetham let fly with great strike that just evaded Seasiders goalkeeper Joe Fowler.

"If you don’t take your chances, you'll get punished," said Clacton boss Tom Austin.

"Fair play to the Hadleigh keeper. It was a superb performance from him.

"We should have been out of sight at half-time and it was a point that felt like a loss."

It was Hadleigh's first point of the season and one that left Clacton tenth in the Thurlow Nunn League.

They have won one, drawn two and lost one of their opening four premier division matches.

The Seasiders take a break from league action this weekend when they entertain Witham Town in the FA Cup preliminary round (3pm).

They then head to Little Oakley in the Tolleshunt D'Arcy Memorial Cup first round on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that Clacton will play their Essex Senior Cup first-round tie at Stanway Rovers on September 3.