THURLOW NUNN PREMIER Felixstowe & Walton 2 Brantham 1
Felixstowe & Walton kept the pressure on the leaders with this win, but had to work hard against a big, strong, physical visiting side in what at times was a bad tempered and bruising affair that kept referee Andy Gray busy.
Brantham took a single goal lead into the half time break, but an early breakthrough in the second period saw the Seasiders draw level, and then go on to win the game with a close-range header from Scott Chaplin, with 15 minutes left.
Brantham, under their new management structure, were looking to end a run of three straight defeats and in the opening 45 minutes looked capable gaining that elusive first win, with Ollie Mann three times going close to extending his 15 goal tally for the season against the division’s meanest defence, twice heading just wide of Danny Crump’s left-hand post and testing the Seasiders custodian with a firm header from a Ben Newson corner.
It was from another Newson corner that Brantham grabbed the lead four minutes before the break, Crump’s attempted punched clearance flying in to his own net. Stuart Ainsley replaced Nick Ingram at the break, and within a minute delivered the perfect corner for Rhys Barber to meet and head firmly past Jack Spurling. The goal lifted the Seasiders as the rain started, and with the strong breeze at their back and a vociferous crowd of more than 200 singing in the rain, they began to stretch the visitors’ defence.
Spurling denied Craig Jennings, putting the home side ahead as the front man was put clear by Matthews, who then spurned a gilt-edged chance of his own before Scott Chaplin ghosted in at the far post to head the winner.
Felixstowe: Crump, Driver, Clarke, Wiggins, Barber, Davis, Chaplin, Matthews, Ingram (Ainsley 45), Jennings, Powell (Smy 85)
Brantham: Spurling, S.Mann, Nobbs, Smith, Farthing, Sibbons (Garrad 84), Brothers (Bartlett 62), Gregory, O.Mann, Clampin (Parkes 76), Newson.
Referee: A.Gray. Att:208
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