NE14Hockey East Men's LeagueDivision Four South East Clacton 2 Witham II 3CLACTON suffered a home defeat against a well organised and enthusiastic Witham, cutting their second place gap to just one point with three games to play.

NE14Hockey East Men's League

Division Four South East

Clacton 2 Witham II 3

CLACTON suffered a home defeat against a well organised and enthusiastic Witham, cutting their second place gap to just one point with three games to play.

The Seasiders started brightly and dominated the visitors in the first half, but only managed the one goal to show for it when Rob Lukey was in the right place to deflect home a Carl Parkes cross. Clacton had good possession, but found the visitors' defence in mean form with Sam Hodge, Denzil Donovan, and Rik Coleman having few sights of goal. Coleman hit the post after some neat interchanging of passes between Hodge, James Mead and man of the match Jamie Roberts.

The visitors equalised shortly after half time, and Clacton retook the lead when Coleman and Hodge teamed up to pounce on the loose ball to eventually find a gap in the goal line defence to make it 2-1. The visitors put Clacton under pressure and, unlike Clacton, turned their chances into goals with two in quick succession for a 3-2 lead. The Seasiders had a chance to level the game with a short corner at the end of the game, but again the visitors defence held strong to see out their deserved victory.

Next week Clacton travel to Upminster with chasing third placed Crostyx playing London Metropolitan University in what will be an exciting run in for the second promotion spot.