Felixstowe & Walton United FC

HULLBRIDGE SPORTS  2 - 1  FELIXSTOWE & WALTON UNITED  

Seasiders unlucky on the road

Seasiders suffer narrow defect at a big promotion rival.

A siege on the Heybridge goal in the last 15 minutes couldn't prevent The Seasiders from sliding to a narrow defect at one of their rivals in the early race for play-off places

1st Half:
Heybridge may carry the nickname "The Swifts", but it was Felixstowe who made the fast start at the Aspen Waite Arena when Joe Whight headed home after only 3 minutes following a free kick from the right.

 

As the game settled down it soon became clear that this was to be a hugely competitive and strongly fought game, with chances few and far between as both defences generally held the upper hand.

 

On 17 minutes Charlie Warren did manage to find space down the left wing and cut inside the right back; his powerful right foot shot flying just past the far post as Callum Chafer in the Swifts' goal looked anxiously on.

 

Five minutes later the home side were level when Heybridge stole the ball on the left wing and the ensuing cross was met by striker Kieran Jones, who slotted home coolly from 12 yards.

 

Soon after The Seasiders were nearly back in front when a Josh Hitter corner from the right was met by the returning skipper Billy Holland, his firm header flying just past the near post.

 

There then followed a long period of attrition as a series of niggly fouls, free kicks and injuries brought about a lot of stop and start to the action, however as the first half drew to a close there was a flurry of chances.  First, a fantastic tackle by Harry Blackburn denied former Seasider Rhys Henry a tap in for the home side from 6 yards, whilst at the other end the very impressive Andre Hasanally beat three players before his shot was deflected wide for a corner.  Then just before the whistle Heybridge centre back Darren Phillips saw a powerful downward header from a corner end up straight into the arms of the grateful Callum Robinson in the Felixstowe goal.

 

 

2nd Half:
Heybridge took the lead soon after the restart when (yet another) free kick from the left wing was never fully cleared which allowed Quba Gordon to slam home.

 

On 55 minutes Felixstowe striker Zak Brown left the field injured after a clash with home defender Darren Phillips, who was also forced off in the same incident.  Ollie Canfer came on as an able replacement, but the game continued in scrappy fashion until that last fifteen minutes as Heybridge increasingly kept an eye on the final whistle whilst Felixstowe pushed hard for an equalizing goal.

 

Stuart Boardley had sacrificed Leon Otley-Gooch from midfield to bring on Sam Ford as an extra striker, whilst at the same time asking Josh Hitter to play more inside and pushing Andre Hasanally out to the right wing.  On any other day you could easily have been reading about a tactical masterstroke as what followed could only be described as a siege!

 

The changes almost paid off immediately as Sam Ford saw a powerful right foot shot fly across goal after Hasanally jinked his way down the right.  There then followed a series of Felixstowe corners and free kicks, the result of a great deal of defending by the home side which could be described as both desperate and tenacious in equal measure; to their credit they all laid bodies on the line for the Heybridge cause.

 

On 82 minutes a Josh Hitter free kick was tipped just wide of the post by Chafer, and from the resulting corner a melee ensued which saw three shots from close range by various Felixstowe players blocked by a combination of the 'keeper and home defenders in the vicinity of the six yard box - on one occasion the spinning ball being clawed back by Chafer as it was about to cross the line.

 

On 86 minutes fine work by Sam Ford on the left edge of the penalty area resulted in a pinpoint cross, but Canfer's fine header passed agonisingly wide of the far post as the majority of the Felixstowe support jumped up in what turned out to be premature celebration!

 

As the 90th minute ticked by, a long throw from the right saw Billy Holland's looping header land on top of the Heybridge net.

 

The final whistle was met by a huge cheer of relief by home supporters, as many players from both sides sank to their knees in exhaustion, relief, or disappointment.

 

This was Felixstowe's fourth away defeat of the season - all by the odd goal against other serious play off rivals (Grays, Sudbury, Lowestoft and now Heybridge) - which is hugely frustrating especially as Felixstowe have seldom looked second best on any occasion.  On the other hand The Seasiders enjoy a perfect home record (seven wins from seven games) so back to back home league games against Witham (3rd December) and Bury Town (10th December) will be welcome and hopefully soon get the team back on track.

Attendance 343

Report by Martin Brooks

Photos by Tom Bradford

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