Division Three South East Upminster II 0 Clacton 0 Clacton never really got going in a battling game that saw little flowing hockey. Upminster fought hard but Clacton's defence held strong while at the other end the Seasiders created changes, however, unlike last week, were unable to find the back of the net.

Division Three South East

Upminster II 0 Clacton 0

Clacton never really got going in a battling game that saw little flowing hockey.

Upminster fought hard but Clacton's defence held strong while at the other end the Seasiders created changes, however, unlike last week, were unable to find the back of the net.

Mike Key returned to goal and made one crucial save, but with the defence on top of the opponents he saw little of the ball. Peter Wright put in a solid performance along with Colin Hook, Trevor Sumption, and Gavin Underhay. Man-of-the-match Nick Key stopped the home side down the left, threading balls through to the forward players at will. It was going forward where Clacton never got into the flowing game of the previous week and, with a number of players off the boil, it proved a frustrating day for the Seasiders.

Clacton failed to make use of a number of short corners, having got the ball close to goal on a few occasions, and they just lacked that extra little bit to get the ball over the line, asking few questions of the home sides keeper.

The Seasiders hit the post and missed the target when well placed to score. The best chance of the game came when Underhay went on a forceful run down the left before finding Daniel Hunn who picked out Ric Coleman with time and space in the circle, but Coleman's normal secured shooting was missing and the ball flew past the post.

The game was summed up with two minutes to go when captain Carl Parkes was lacking composure as the opponents stepped in front of a ball to stop a free hit. The incident saw Parkes sinned binned with the opponent being red carded and in the aftermath another Upminster player talked his way into the sin bin. The incident was a sour end to a sour performance from the skipper. With the home side down to nine men they looked to see out the last two minutes and Clacton lacked the flowing game to unlock the home sides defensiveness and spoiling tactics.

Next week Clacton take on East London at Clacton Leisure Centre (14:00) looking to get back to playing hockey.