Havering III 1 Clacton 6

NE14Hockey Men's League

Division Four South East

Havering III 1 Clacton 6

CLACTON'S future is in good hands following this awesome display of free flowing hockey from what, on paper, was a make shift team following five enforced changes.

Influential midfielder Jamie Roberts failed to come through a shin injury, Francis Sanderson (back) and with other players unavailable ranging from work commitments to Valentine's day arrangements the Seasiders called on the younger players to step up to the plate.

Phil Herr showed great positioning, touch and vision in midfield. Ryan Nippress continued in impress at left back, in what is an unusual position for him. Casper Khan came in at centre back to shut out his opponent and play intelligent passes into Herr and James Mead. Steven Key showed he still has what it takes in the first team having spent a season guiding the second team to stability.

The regular first team players did their bit to ensure this was a happy day for Clacton with Nick Key giving great encouragement and intelligent calm passing from sweeper. Alex Mortimer showed his commitment to the cause by rearranging his day to put in his usual solid energetic display. Mead was pivotal in midfield shifting the play from one side to the other and up front Denzil Donovan, Sam Hodge, and Rik Coleman caused panic and mayhem to the home defence.

Captain Carl Parkes was in awe of his team's performance as he was able to watch most of the game resting some niggling injuries.

Clacton started brightly scoring two goals inside 10 minutes to setup the flowing confident display. The first came when Mead set Donovan away down the left before he found Hodge in the circle, in the ensuing scrabble it was Coleman that slapped the ball home for 1-0. The Seasiders, and Coleman, doubled their tally from their next short corner with Coleman flicking the ball into the roof of the net.

The Seasiders created lots of chances, but were unable to extend their lead due to a combination of great keeping, tenacious defending, and shots missing by millimetres. In Clacton's goal Mike Key saw a number of short corner strikes, but he handled them with his usual calmness.

The second half started with the home side determined to get back into the game and with Mike Key unbeatable by the opponents Parkes gave Mike Key a harder test by deflecting a ball from within a foot giving the Clacton keeper no chance.

Within five minutes Parkes made up for his error when he was found by Herr with the freedom of the home circle and enough time to widen the angle before smashing the ball home for 3-1.

Clacton then put on an exhibition-style performance with every player on the pitch stroking and caressing the ball around with slick two-touch hockey carving open and frustrating the opponents.

Coleman increased his tally scoring two short corners, the best when he rounded the runner before smashing the ball passed the goal line defence and Steven Key rounded off the scoring after Herr had waltzed around the defence before firing in a cross that Steven Key grateful placed home for a well deserved 6-1 score line.

Man of the match Donovan put in the dirty work battling hard defending the left and waltzing off up the pitch to start many a flowing move and earning short corners for the talisman Coleman.

Next week top team London Metropolitan University come to second placed Clacton in a game that Clacton must win to keep the pressure on the first spot, 2pm Clacton Leisure Centre.