Thurlow Nunn Premier Coggeshall Town 1 Felixstowe & Walton United 2 Josh Kerridge’s 86th minute headed goal saw the Seasiders come from behind to claim all three points from their visit to league leaders Coggeshall Town, writes Chris Ryan.
With both teams having won all their league games so far this season, a keenly contested and close encounter was expected, but something had to give and with a penalty awarded either side of the interval, the game looked to be heading to a draw until that final twist.
With both keepers virtual first half spectators and both defences handling all challenges posed, it took a penalty five minutes before the interval to break the deadlock.
The ever dangerous Nnamdi Nwachuku skipped into the Felixstowe area before Davis’s late tackle brought him to ground. Nwachuku picked himself up to drill the spot kick inside Crumps’ left hand post and provide the hosts with a narrow interval lead.
Jordan Matthews and Joe Francis combined well at the start of the second period to open up the home defence, and with Francis held inside the area by Kamal Guthmey, referee Paul Quick had no hesitation in awarding a penalty for the visitors.
Francis rifled home the spot kick to bring the sides level, with the game becoming very open compared to the first period.
Shaw saw his shot blocked for a corner moments later as Coggeshall responded, and Danny Crump saved well at his near post to deny Partridge’s header.
Behcet in the home goal saved low down from Francis just after the hour mark, but as the tempo increased Felixstowe’s Crump was the busier keeper saving from Nwachuku, Syrett and from Hubble’s viciously struck free kick.
With the clock running down, the visitors were defending for a point before Chaplin’s relieving run resulted in a corner. Chaplin took the flag kick with Josh Kerridge powerfully heading home from close range, to the delight of his team mates and the many travelling supporters.
Coggeshall pressed forward and in the fifth minute of time added, on Crump made a tremendous blocking save to deny Curtis and the home side a late equaliser, which their second half performance had deserved.
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