Wroxham 0 Felixstowe & Walton 4

East Anglian Daily Times: Seasiders' Miles Powell shoots just wide past Wroxham keeper George MacRea at Trafford Park. Photo: STAN BASTONSeasiders' Miles Powell shoots just wide past Wroxham keeper George MacRea at Trafford Park. Photo: STAN BASTON (Image: Archant)

When Wroxham took all three points away from the Goldstar at the end of January, it was the Seasiders first home loss of the season, and the first of three consecutive home defeats that might ultimately cost them the title.

With Coggeshall now in the driving seat following their Friday night success at Stanway Rovers, this was almost a must win game for Felixstowe & Walton, and at a venue that has rarely been a happy hunting ground for the visitors.

In the end, Felixstowe got the result they needed from an entertaining encounter that saw a penalty, red card and some high quality goals on a pitch that resembled Cromer Beach, with over half the 126 crowd having made the trip into the Broads from Suffolk, to support the visitors.

The opening half hour was a fairly even, nondescript affair, Kye Ruel was an early casualty, limping out of the game after 15 minutes following a heavy challenge from Adam Plumstead.

The Yachtsmen should have been ahead when Connor Ingram rattled Danny Crump’s crossbar with a rising effort, and Joe Francis was just wide with a header at the other end before Ethan Clarke was hauled down by Kieran Smith in the area on the half hour, with referee Paul Burnham pointing to the spot.

Francis stepped up to drill home the spot-kick for his 28th goal of the season to put the Seasiders in charge, and Wroxham were down to ten before the break with Plumstead picking up a second yellow following a late challenge on the edge of the Wroxham area.

When Miles Powell extended the lead in the 55th minute with a volley from the edge of the area, the result never looked in doubt. It was Powell who added the third ten minutes later, jinxing into the area before side-footing the ball across McCrae.

The visitors saved the best till last when Chaplin helped on a short corner from Boardley to tee up substitute Stuart Ainsley in the 84th minute, and the defender, up for the flag kick, rifled an unstoppable effort beyond McCrae from 25 yards.

Coggeshall remain top of Thurlow Nunn Premier, a point clear of Felixstowe and with a game in hand. Tuesday night, Felixstowe entertain Ipswich Wanderers at the Goldstar.