FC Clacton came from behind to defeat Newmarket Town 2-1 and extended the Jockey’s winless start to the season. The visitors had looked on course for victory but goals in the last fifteen minutes from Josh Grimes and Karl Andrade gave Clacton the victory.

Although absent from the game, manager Andy Taylor shuffled his pack after Tuesday’s defeat to Wivenhoe with James Dunkley and Grimes coming in for the absent Tom Austin and Sean Hillier whilst Liam Whittaker was preferred over Andrade, although the on loan striker limped off after just twenty minutes. Matt Cripps was moved into the midfield whilst Joe Martin and Lee Peacock made up centre of the home sides defence. Meanwhile, in the dug out, Glenn Eldridge took over managerial duties for the day.

Playing with the strong, gusty wind at their backs, Newmarket were marginally the better in a scrappy first period although Clacton came within a whisker of opening the scoring after nine minutes when Dunkley controlled a cross field ball and fed Grimes whose shot looked to be going in before curling a whisker past the post.

The wind and rain were affecting both teams and neither goalkeeper was forced into a save as the sides cancelled each other out. However four minutes before half time, with the first real effort on target from either side Newmarket took the lead. Clacton conceded a free kick centrally twenty five yards out and Ed Curtis stepped up to drill home a low effort past Joe Playle to give the visitors the first half lead.

Clacton came out after the interval looking much more purposeful pressing the visitors back in their own half. Clear cut chances however were at a premium although Matt Waters did cut inside and fire over the bar.

The Seasiders nearly did get back on level terms when a defensive error saw Karl Andrade nip onto the ball between the last defender and Newmarket keeper Adam Wright to prod the ball goalwards but his effort did not have the legs to beat David Grainger who got back to clear off his own line.

At the other end Joe Playle had to be alert as James Lane got in down the right and the Clacton keeper had to tip his fierce cross-cum shot over the bar.

Clacton did get their equaliser with just under fifteen minutes left when a Newmarket defender misjudged a long ball forward and missed his header allowing Grimes to reach the ball ahead of Wright and lob the ball towards goal. The ball looked like it might be a repeat of Andrade’s earlier attempt but Grimes was able to follow up his own effort to beat the retreating defenders to the ball and prod into the empty net and notch his first goal for Clacton.

Clacton’s winner came just five minutes later as another defensive slip allowed Matt Waters in on the left. His swirling cross was not cut out and Andrade was able to chest down and with no defender able to clear the loose ball the striker lashed a left footed effort home from close range to give Clacton the lead.

Newmarket hit back and forced a succession of corners in the closing minutes that Playle and his defence had to be contend with but the referee’s whistle brought relief and a welcome three points for Beaver’s men.