Clacton extended their winning run to seven games and in the process, equalled an eight-match winning streak in league matches with a 3-1 victory despite a generally scratchy display against March Town United. 

With promotion rivals Halstead and Brantham facing off, Clacton knew that a win would see them either gain ground or extend their lead over one of their promotion rivals and they got off to the best possible start with a goal inside sixty seconds.

From the kick-off, March passed the ball backwards but were forced to give away a corner thanks to committed harrying from Mark White. The resultant kick was powered home by Gregg Heighway with just 50 seconds on the watch.

March seemed stunned by the early set back and Clacton nearly made it two just a couple of minutes later. Another corner was not cleared and when Paul Hillier lofted the ball back towards goal it took a clearance by Jordan Gault off his own goal line to stop the ball creeping in.

Slowly the visitors did start to settle and came even close to equalising on 17 minutes when a low corner made its way to captain Luke Pepper in the middle of the area. However his effort was thwarted thanks to a desperate block by Heighway throwing himself at the ball.

Having recovered from their early set back March were beginning to warm to their task as they grew in confidence, passing the ball neatly and running at the Clacton defence. However it was the home side who doubled their lead just after the half hour mark. A long ball over the top saw both James Dunkley and Mark White closing down Dan Heath as he advanced to clear. Dunkley managed to challenge the goalkeeper and the loose ball fell to White who calmly lobbed the ball into the empty net.

Just before half time Clacton made it 3-0. A long throw saw Chris Ribchester head the ball goalward only to see Gault clear off his line again. However the danger was not averted as the ball was played back to Matt Waters on the left. Waters jinked inside his marker and hit a low shot that crept inside Heath’s near post to give Clacton a clear half time lead.

There was no repeat of the early sluggishness from the visitors in the second half as March came roaring out at Clacton in a bid to overturn the formidable deficit. Just two minutes into the half good work by winger Denny Escarsio saw him cross for Pepper to head just wide. 

And despite the early warning a minute later Clacton did allow the visitors back into the game when a poorly judged attempt to turn a long ball back to his goalkeeper by Gregg Heighway only succeeded in diverting the ball into the path of Ashley Brand who exquisitely lobbed Darren Gould from 25 yards.

With ten minutes gone in the half there was another reason for the Seasiders to hold their breathe when a free kick found Brand at the far post but he could only guide his volley wide.

Clacton finally began to get into the half and just after the hour a sweeping move involving Kevin Coyle, Matt Waters and Paul Hillier ended with a snapshot by the Clacton captain that was safely held by Heath. With twenty minutes left a breakaway saw Dunkley nearly put Mark White through however he could not quite beat Heath to the ball and as it broke loose the defence got back to scramble clear.

March were keeping Clacton on their toes and Pepper again went close with just over ten minutes left, drilling just wide when a corner was not cleared. At the other end substitute Karl Andrade nearly finished a neat move but his left foot volley was well held by Heath. As time ticked away Clacton could finally feel comfortable that they would secure their victory to consolidate their place in the top three and they will look to keep the run going against Diss on Saturday.