Chelmsford IV 2 Clacton 5

NE14Hockey League

Division Four South East

Chelmsford IV 2

Clacton 5

CLACTON secured their third win in four games to extend their unbeaten run. Again the Seasiders raced to an early lead before being pegged back. Ric Coleman scored his 10th goal of the season when captain Carl Parkes took a quick free-hit to find Rob Lukey on his toes who committed the keeper to set Coleman up with an easy tap-in for 1-0.

Clacton doubled their lead when Jamie Roberts pounced on a short corner rebound and Sam Hodge made an immediate impact off the bench after Densil Donovan fought his way through the defence before finding Hodge free to roof the ball into the net with his fist touch making it 3-0.

The Seasiders gifted the opponents two goals when they gave the ball away too easily in the middle of the pitch and some disjointed defending left keeper Mike Key isolated, for a 3-2 score line at half time.

With Colin Hook having to limp off Casper Khan continued on from last week's debut with a solid performance at left back. Nick Key and Gavin Underhay returned this week and got back into the grove in the second half. Alex Mortimer enjoyed the space down the right to attack from the back, with James Mead providing the defensive shield in the middle of the pitch. Roberts and Parkes dominated the opponents midfield picking out Coleman, Hodge, Lukey, and Donovan at will.

The second half saw Clacton shut out the opponents and created plenty of scoring opportunities. Man-of-the-match for the second week running was Donovan who terrorised the home defence closing them down, robbing them, and dribbling off down the pitch. Donovan got a well deserved goal to make it 4-2 with a well-placed shot and Coleman finished the scoring getting his 11th of the season and equally last seasons total tally in just three appearance.

Clacton played some great flowing hockey on a less than ideal pitch to put in a professional performance to secure another three points.