Match 40. FC Clacton v Kirkley & Pakefield

Saturday 19^th April 2014 @3pm

Thurlow Nunn Eastern Counties League Premier Division

FC CLACTON 2-1 KIRKLEY & PAKEFIELD

The Rush Green Bowl, Rush Green Road, Clacton-On-Sea

  

Admission: £6

Programme: £1.20

Attendance: 112

Refreshments: Strongbow, £3. Cheeseburger, £2.80

  

The consensus in the house was a trip to the coast, so I suggested Clacton, as we have been meaning to visit for a couple of years.  I dropped the girls off at the Pier and after having a drive around the town, found the ground and The Three Jays pub nearby, where the Spurs v Fulham second half had started.

  

After the match on TV finished, I drove back to the large car park outside the ground entrance.  There was an unmanned gate open on the opposite corner and I could have sneaked in for free but I went through the main entrance and paid my six quid and purchased the programme which was a really good read. The pitch is at a raised level to the entrance, clubhouse and changing rooms behind the near goal.  There is a hospitality building to the left and a club shop which was closed.  The seated stand is along the left hand touchline, and there is standing cover behind the goal and the famous Bus Shelter stand along the right touchline. The clubhouse only had Fosters and Strongbow available on tap with 5 taps out of use, but barman Jason did his best to keep the customers smiling. There is a mobile trailer selling hot food and drinks in front of the clubhouse.

   

The pitch was very dry and sandy, with the cold swirling wind on an otherwise pleasant sunny day. This wasn’t going to be a passing game, but it was easy to watch nonetheless.  I stood near the home dugout that was not happy with the first 30 minutes effort and I thought they were quite negative.  I later learned that it was an interim management team in place until the end of the season. The home side did play the better football in the first hour and only the last 30 minutes when K&P were chasing the game did Clacton ever feel threatened.

  

The home goals came within 3 minutes of each other and both were set up by a long throw on the right hand side by the home number 5 Mark Bailey, who aimed for the near post.  Three players jumped for the ball but it was flicked by a K&P head and ended up in the far corner of the net.  A similar throw from the same player cleared the front defender and Tom Holdstock sneaked in behind to head in at the near post in front of the keeper.   The K&P goal came on 67 minutes when from a corner the home defender only headed it towards goal where Jack Herbert scrambled the ball over the line.

  

This was a vital win for the Seasiders as any 3 from the bottom 6 could still be relegated.