FC Clacton found themselves unable to break down a determined Norwich United rearguard effort as they lost 1-0 at the Rush Green Bowl. Despite enjoying the majority of possession and territory after George Wilson’s twentieth minute goal Clacton struggled to find a way to open up a well marshalled Planters defence as they search for an equaliser.

United had the first attempt on goal after five minutes when a ball played in from the right hand side saw Tom Mustapha ghost between two defenders to flick a header goalwards but straight at Joe Playle.

A competitive opening period saw both teams trying to pass the ball around without looking likely to break the deadlock until the twentieth minute when the ball was chipped into the box from the right hand side finding Wilson in acres of space fifteen yards out. The midfielder chested the ball down before swivelling to coolly fire the bouncing ball left footed past Playle to open the scoring.

Having taken the lead the visitors were content to sit back and protect their advantage, often leaving Tom Mustapha as the lone striker, although his pace and work rate ensured his team maintained a credible attacking threat. Clacton on the other hand seemed to lack the nous or imagination to really break down an organised defensive unit.

The exception to this came in the twenty-fifth minute when they created their only clear cut chance of the game. Sean Hillier dinked a little through ball in behind the Norwich defence for Aaron Condon to run onto. Unfortunately for Clacton Condon could only put his effort wide of the right hand upright.

Mustapha continued to pose a threat and on the half hour mark James Dunkley had to get across to block his right footed effort. Ten minutes later Playle had to react smartly to reach the ball ahead of Mustapha and, as the ball was quickly switched upfield, Hillier crossed from the right for Condon to volley just wide.

Norwich nearly doubled their lead after fifty nine minutes as Kieran Doherty nicked in to steal the ball from Hillier’s toes, ghosted past another defender and crossed to Mustapha before Hillier atoned for his error by getting back to block.

The final half an hour followed a similar pattern to the first half with Clacton enjoying the majority of territory and possession but could not fashion a clear chance leaving Ben Nower in the Norwich goal largely unworked. The home side were restricted to a number of long shots as Kevin Coyle shot low but without enough power to trouble Nower, then Hillier unleashed a twenty-five yard effort that whistled just wide and finally Matt Cripps played a one-two, drove forward and fired another effort just wide.

With ten minutes to go Norwich sub Guelor Mbara-Massamba missed a chance to seal the game as he broke away but could only place his shot to the right of the goal. However despite this miss and Clacton’s continued pressing the stubborn Norwich defence held firm to record a hard-fought victory.