Felixstowe & Walton United FC

FELIXSTOWE & WALTON UNITED  3 - 1  STOWMARKET TOWN 

Third time lucky for the Seasiders as twice postponed match is worth the wait!

Felixstowe & Walton United secured a vital three points in their push for the playoffs, beating rivals Stowmarket Town 3-1 at the AGL Arena on Thursday evening. The Seasiders produced a sparkling performance in the twice postponed match with a 95^th minute clincher from Zak Brown the icing on the cake to send the home supporters away happy. Billy Holland had put Felixstowe ahead on 35 minutes with the away side levelling things on 54 minutes following an error at the back. Leon Ottley-Gooch restored the advantage on 66 minutes before Zak stole the show in injury time.

Felixstowe were almost at full strength, with just Harry Knock, George Clarke on the injury list. Miles Grimes was rested ahead of Saturdays game at Witham and Zak Brown started on the bench following his injury withdrawal during last Saturday’s loss at Bury Town. Stowmarket were without the influential Tom Bullard but featured former Seasider, and brother of Stuart, Jack Ainsley.

It was a fairly tame start to the match, both sides were playing decent passing football but chances were at a premium early on with Felixstowe having the first real effort on 10 minutes, Callum Harrison firing a 20-yard free kick inches over the bar. Callum Robinson headed a long forward ball clear a minute later with Billy Holland working his magic to halt the Stowmarket forward in his tracks as he looked to take advantage of the empty goal. Ollie Canfer then crossed from the left to Josh Hitter to head just wide on 12 minutes. Harrison was having a fine game and his burst forward on 15 minutes was only stopped at the third attempt as he reached the edge of the area and his shot was blocked. Charlie Warren created space on the left shortly after to tee up Billy Holland who crossed into the box for Canfer who headed over. Canfer dispossessed Bradbrook at the byline on 28 minutes but two defenders cleared up as he looked to cross into space. The goal Felixstowe were craving came on 35 minutes, the ball was loose in the box and Billy Holland struck a low shot towards the right side of the goal, it seemed to creep under Bradbrook, perhaps helped by the wet surface after a heavy shower, and spun over the line. Straight from kick off, Stowmarket had their best chance so far, an angled effort from 18 yards flew just wide of the far post with Robinson seemingly beaten. Josh Hitter shot wide on 40 minutes after racing forward onto a delightful through ball as Felixstowe looked to increase their advantage before the break. Callum Harrison nearly got that crucial second goal with a stunning strike on 42 minutes, his volley from the right beating the goalkeeper and thumping the inside of the far post, the ball was then scrambled away from the line as Holland looked to capitalise on the rebound. Bradbrook was again the saviour a minute later as the pressure increased further, Warren threading a ball through two defenders to Hitter at the left post whose close-range effort was well saved. Stowmarket had the final chance of the half and it came via a good ball through from Jack Ainsley, it set up a 35-yard effort that Robinson did well to get down to and cover.

The visitors had the first chance of the second half, a shot fired inches wide when in a great position in the area. Charlie Warren spun on the half way line to take out two defenders with his ball through to Ollie Canfer on 49 minutes, Canfers shot was deflected wide by the goalkeeper. It was end to end now and Robinson punched clear a dangerous ball on 50 minutes, but 4 minutes later a punch out fell straight to Jack Wilkinson who had a simple task of smacking the ball in and levelling things up. 2 minutes later and Stowmarket shot way over the bar from a good position and Noel Aitkens tried his luck from 30-yards with a floating effort that just cleared the far upright. The home side retook the lead on 66 minutes as Leon Ottley-Gooch found himself in the right place to slam the ball home from 10-yards after a fine cross from the left. Callum Harrison nearly got the goal he deserved on 70 minutes, his ferocious shot from 22-yards was heading just under the crossbar until Bradbrook somehow got a hand to it and tipped it over. Stowmarket headed wide on 78 minutes as a nervousness started to spread around the ground due to the slender home lead. The nerves were nearly settled on 80 minutes when three quick-fire chances were denied in the Stowmarket box, Aitkens, Ainsley and Hitter all seeing shots blocked and saved in a frantic 20 second spell. On 90 minutes it was hearts in mouths time as the visitors somehow were denied an equaliser, a throw in was headed back towards the near post and Robinson could only divert it on to the bar, the rebound was headed down but wide with the away supporters beginning to celebrate what should have been a certain goal. The best action was saved for the last minute of injury time, Felixstowe had managed the game well for the added 5 minutes so far and the ball then came away towards half way, Zak Brown turned and nodded it through, beating two defenders and racing forward, most supporters, I would guess, would be expecting him to head for the corner flag but Zak had other ideas, instead holding off further defenders and launching an absolute rocket of a shot from the edge of the D to give Bradbrook no chance whatsoever, a truly stunning strike and a fitting end to an absorbing encounter that had been well worth the three day wait!

Report by Stuart Daynes

Photos by Stefan Peck

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