Clacton proved far too strong for an injury hit Cornard United side in their clash at the Rush Green Bowl. Clacton were always on top and could have easily ended up with more than the three goals that they did score.

With the wind at their backs Clacton were guilty of over complicating matters  in the early stages with too many passes going astray or drifting harmlessly long in the breeze. However, they soon began to find their range and on eighteen minutes they broke the deadlock.  Matt Waters was set free down the left by Andy Taylor and his deep cross was met by Sean Hillier who looped a header back into the far corner.

Cornard almost equalised immediately but were thwarted by a great last-ditch tackle from Taylor to block a shot from a left wing cross.  After this chance, Clacton took control leaving Darren Gould a virtual spectator for long periods.

On 25 minutes, Mark White became the first, but by no means the last Clacton player to be thwarted by Darren Moyes in the Cornard goal.  Arriving late to meet a long throw, White saw his effort brilliantly clawed away by the Cornard keeper.

However, Moyes was unable to prevent a second Clacton goal ten minutes later. Tommy Noble made space to put a cross into the box which was glanced home by Gregg Heighway making a perfectly timed late run into the area.

If Clacton’s second goal had been good, the third five minutes later was even better.  An excellent long pass by Waters picked out White in the left channel.  With his first touch, the striker controlled the ball and with his second, he hammered the ball over Moyes and into the top corner for the goal of the game and sent Clacton into a commanding 3-0 half time lead.

That the Seasiders did not manage to add to that total in the second-half will continue to be a puzzle for all in attendance, although Moyes and a large dose of luck certainly contributed to this.

Within ten minutes of the restart, Clacton had already seen Chris Ribchester fire just wide, Sean Hillier head just over and Waters denied twice by Moyes, the second time when the keeper turned a one-on-one effort around the post.

Despite their pressure and chances, Clacton still could not increase their lead. Ribchester again went close as his effort hit the bar with White’s follow up effort blocked on the line before Noble saw two more efforts saved by Moyes.

With five minutes to go, there was a welcome return to the first team for James Dunkley as Clacton eased up to record a comfortable 3-0 win.

Credit should go to the young Cornard side who never stopped trying to play good football but on the night they were simply outclassed by a dominant Clacton performance that took the Seasiders to second in the league table.