Goddy beaten at the seaside

Ridgeons League Division One

FC Clacton 3 Godmanchester Rovers 0

AFTER an excellent showing in midweek, when Rovers picked up a good point against Hadleigh United this replayed game will be one to forget.

They had been beaten at Clacton early in the season, but the home side had played an ineligible played and the league ordered a replay.

Clacton made a positive start, scoring after four minutes in their first real attack. Liam Springett made a surging run down the right and his precise cross was dispatched at the far post by Sean Hillier. The same player almost doubled the score but was unlucky to see his shot rebound from the crossbar.

Nicky Hurst and Simon Osborne then both brought good saves from the Clacton custodian and both Paul Bass and Lee Boon squandered chances to level the scores during a period of sustained Rovers pressure.

Then, two minutes before the break, Godmanchester failed to deal with a corner and Ashley Howard headed home to double the lead.

Worse was to follow because inside the first minute after the restart Michael White scored a third Clacton goal with the visiting defence caught square.

On the hour Gavin Armitage saved a Terry Rymer spot-kick to give his side hope but Godmanchester were never going to retrieve a three goal deficit.

In game against Hadleigh United last week, Rovers put in a great effort to pick up a point from the 1-1 draw.

With the visitors looking to grab the points to help with their promotion charge, manager Karly Hurst was quick to praise his team. "We reserve our best performances for when we play the top teams and that was one of our best," he said.

Scott Welton put the visitors ahead on the hour but never-say-die Rovers got the point they deserved when a Stephen Davis Hurst corner beat defenders at the far post and Nicky Hurst half volleyed in an unstoppable shot.

- Rovers followed up Saturday's defeat with a fine 2-1 win at home to Cambridgeshire rivals March Town United and welcome Great Yarmouth on Saturday.