Felixstowe & Walton United FC

FELIXSTOWE & WALTON UNITED  2  - 1  GREAT WAKERING ROVERS

Seasiders home winning run continues as they go second

Felixstowe & Walton United were made to work hard for the three points against a Great Wakering Rovers side that fought their way back into the match after a scintillating first half an hour from the Seasiders, and two superb goals from Josh Hitter and George Clarke had the home side cruising to victory. A 73rd minute header made for a nervy finish but Felixstowe held out to record their ninth successive home league victory.

Joe Whight missed out through injury, joining Harry Knock, Callum Harrison and Henry Barley on the side lines. Zak Brown and Lamell Howell returned to the stating eleven with Ollie Canfer unavailable.

The opening exchanges were fairly even with neither side able to create anything of note, however, that all changed in the 7^th minute when a free kick was won on the corner of the 18-yard box, Josh Hitter stepped up and sent in a stunning curling effort into the far top corner of the net to put the home side ahead. Felixstowe were now playing some lovely football all over the pitch with the visitors unable to contain wave after wave of attack. George Clarke and Lamell Howell linked up well to set Clarke free on the right and he flew into the box and sent his low drilled effort just wide of the far post. Shortly after it was the livewire Clarke who made it two nil with a simply superb goal, Charlie Warren sent a delightful ball through and Clarke brilliantly side stepped his man to find himself in on goal, and with Harry Fairs standing tall he stroked the ball past him to finish sublimely on 17 minutes. Warren again worked his magic in the middle to set Zak Brown free on the left and he did well to lose the defender but his cross could only find the goalkeeper on 20 minutes and then Stuart Ainsley sent over the ball of the game to Brown who couldn’t quite connect in the box on 23 minutes. Two minutes later and Felixstowe’s superb play was so nearly rewarded with a third goal, this time it was Charlie Warren creating his own chance, he stepped inside from distance and his curling effort towards the far top corner was well saved by Fairs. On 27 minutes it was Zak Brown demolishing the defence to beat three men and set up Charlie Warren to cross for George Clarke, his poke towards goal was again well saved at the last second. Stoppages for injuries and bookings seemed to disrupt the flow of the half from therein and the visitors gradually managed to plug their defence and have more of the ball, their first chance of the game came on 32 minutes with a 22-yard effort flying two feet over the bar. Billy Holland saw his looping header from the edge of the box just evade the near post on 44 minutes and Zak Brown was denied again by the goalkeeper as his half volley from 12 yards was diverted wide. Great Wakering showed the danger they possess in first half stoppage time with two headers in quick succession causing some nerves around the ground as they were both cleared when a goal looking a certainty.

The second half started with Felixstowe back on the front foot and George Clarke nearly wrapped up the points on 48 minutes, racing through and taking the ball the full width of the area before unleashing a powerful shot that beat the ‘keeper but cannoned off the near post and out to safety. Chances were few and far between for the majority of the half with plenty of substitutions, bookings and injuries again disrupting both sides. With Rovers unable to create much going forward it was unsurprisingly a set piece that saw them reduce the deficit on 73 minutes, a harsh free kick on the left was met by Eusebio Da Silva and his simple header beat everyone to make it two one. Two minutes later and another set piece nearly led to an unlikely equaliser, this time a corner was met by another header but this time it flew just over the bar. Sam Ford came close twice in the 80^th minute as Felixstowe looked to restore the two-goal advantage, first seeing his goal bound shot blocked on the line and then another stab towards goal cleared by some desperate defending. Ford was again denied on 89 minutes by a fantastic save from Fairs as his shot seemed to be destined for the bottom corner. With Great Wakering unable to create anything of note late on, but with their dramatic 94^th minute leveller at Stowmarket fresh on their minds, it was never particularly comfortable for Felixstowe but they managed to protect their defensive line by attacking well and at pace for the last few minutes, Zak Brown coming closest to adding to the score but his shot from the right side of the area went wide of the near post.

Seasiders Manager Stuart Boardley spoke after the game. “I thought we started the game really well, obviously two up after 20 minutes and we looked like we were in full control of the game at that point. As tends to be a bit of a weakness, we kind of allowed them to get back in the game, they didn’t do anything particularly well to get themselves back in it themselves but our play enabled it anyway, but we were professional from there and we managed the game fairly well. We know what Great Wakering are about, they will give everything, they’ve got honest lads who will work from minute one to minute ninety and the reports we’ve had and from what we’ve seen they did exactly that so our attitude had to be spot on and I thought it was today, we worked incredibly hard to get the three points. That takes us into what is a huge game at Lowestoft, but of course it’s just for three points. We let the occasion get the better of us at Sudbury on Tuesday and it was just nice to get back here at home and relax, get a good three points, we will take that into next week and ensure we play the game and not the occasion.”

Report by Stuart Daynes

Photos by Stefan Peck

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