Ilford 0 FC Clacton 3

Essex Senior League, Monday 7th November

Cricklefield was the venue for my latest Monday night fare and saw goals from Jake Clowsley, Charlie Collis & a blockbuster from Adam Tilson help FC Clacton to a sixth straight away win, seeing off Ilford to move two points off the summit of the Essex Senior League.

The Foxes came into this one having ended a run of three straight defeats in all competitions by netting a superb win at Romford on Friday night, their fifth win of the season in the division, lifting themselves to 15th spot, whereas FC Clacton sat in second spot and could close the gap to leaders Enfield with victory in this one.

The Seasiders had won seven of their last eight in all comps, with their only blip a home loss to Takeley, but their away form had been unbeatable lately, with their last loss away from home being at Stansted back on September 13th, a run of five straight wins in the division, with their latest one a 5-1 hammering of Southend Manor at the weekend.

And it was the visitors who had the chance to take the lead after seventeen minutes when they were awarded a penalty when Mekhi McKenzie was felled inside the box, but hosts keeper Tim Pitman made a superb stop to deny McKenzie from the spot to keep the game tied at 0-0.

FC Clacton continued to carve out the best openings but failed to take them, whereas Ilford also had their moments going forward to, but six minutes into first half stoppage time the visitors did manage to grab a deserved lead when the ball fell to Clowsley inside the box and he applied a decent finish beyond Pitman to send his side into the break a goal to the good.

The game continued in a rather fractious affair but with just over twenty minutes to go the Seasiders doubled their money when a header into the box fell to Charlie Collis who applied a lovely first time volley beyond Pitman, and that at point you felt the game was as good as done.

Ilford attempted to try and get themselves back into the game but could not, and a comfortable FC Clacton ended the night with the best moment of the game when substitute Tilson side footed home an absolute rocket from range, giving keeper Pitman no chance whatsoever, and capped a decent nights work for the visitors, now two points off leaders Enfield at the top of the ESL. 

Full time Ilford 0 FC Clacton 3