Clacton 0 Brentwood II 0

Division 3SE

Clacton 0 Brentwood II 0

A lack of clinical finishing prevented Clacton from finishing the season with a rare win.

The game typified Clacton's season with the Seasider's starting brightly and creating chances but failing to make their opponents pay for a lazy start.

Jamie Roberts had the ball in the back of net within two minutes, but his pass to Rik Coleman was from just outside the circle and Coleman just failed to get the telling touch as the keeper watched the ball dribble past him.

Francis Sanderson saw his neat deflection from a Carl Parkes cross well saved before Tom Blake's slapped rebound went agonisingly past the wrong side of the post.

Coleman fired in a short corner that Rob Lukey deftly deflected, only to see the ball fly over the bar from two yards out as the Seasider's looked on disbelievingly.

Coleman and Lukey combined again from a short corner again to see the deflection this time fly straight across goal and wide of the far post.

Densil Donovan and Parkes also had penalty appeals turned down as Clacton piled the pressure onto the nervous visitors.

At the back keeper Mike Key had a quiet day, only being called on twice to keep out half shots. Peter Wright commanded the defence with John Hambrook not allowing his man any space and preventing him from receiving more than a handful of passes all match.

Colin Hook, Gavin Underhay and Alex Mortimer all put in fine defensive duties to secure Clacton's third clean sheet of the season, while in midfield Jamie Roberts and Blake were in inspiring form, pressurising the opponents into cheap mistakes to allow the Seasider's to pour the pressure on the visitors' defence.

Donovan and Parkes progressed down the flanks to set Coleman and Lukey into the heart of the visitors to earn free hits, short corners and ask questions of the visiting keeper. Sanderson and Mortimer also joined in the forays with overlapping runs down the right, but on the day Clacton could not find that clinical touch or lucky bounce to get the winner.

Donovan terrorised the visitors' right side and for the third consecutive week was voted Clacton's man-of-match.

Results elsewhere mean that Clacton have finished the season second from bottom as Essex University controversially forfeited their last fixture against Wapping, which Clacton needed Wapping to lose. However, Braintree appear to have avoided relegation from Division 2S which could mean that only one team is relegated this season due to the effects of the regional nature of the leagues. Clacton will have to wait a few more days to find out their fate.

Aafter dropping out of the Premier B division seven seasons ago, Clacton got themselves promoted from Division 6SE through to Division 3SE in successive seasons and have enjoyed three seasons in Division 3SE finishing third, fourth and now 11th.

Clacton's down fall this season was only picking up six points out of a possible 30 from the five teams above them and failing to beat any of them.

Whilst the games of the season have to be an away win against high flying Plashet and a 3-0 victory against fifth placed Thurrock, these results proving Clacton do have what it takes to perform in the this league but they need to have a killer touch and consistent performances.

The Seasider's will take stock during the summer and look to improve their hockey next season whichever league they end up playing in.

Meanwhile, Clacton's second eleven have consolidated their Division 7SE position this season finishing mid-table having been promoted in five successive seasons starting from Division 12SE.