FC Clacton produced a Jekyll and Hyde performance as they let a first half lead slip for the second successive game, crashing to a 4-2 defeat to Mildenhall with Andrew Wood grabbing a hat-trick for the visitors. Aaron Condon’s excellent finish had given the Seasiders the lead but Mildenhall struck back with three goals in a twenty minute salvo and, despite Joe Martin’s goal making it an interesting finish, an injury time fourth sealed the win for the visitors.

The home side took the lead after twelve minutes when the ball came to Aaron Condon on the left corner of the penalty area. As the ball bounced up the winger hit a sweet half volley that curled beautifully across Josh Pope and into the top corner.

Following the goal Clacton maintained their early momentum with a spell of pressure without fashioning a clear cut chance and the visitors had their first real effort on goal with Alex Steed curling an effort wide from twenty yards. On twenty minutes Joe Martin won the ball in the centre circle and fed Karl Andrade who advanced goalwards but his effort from twelve yards out was off target.

The visitors thought that they should have had a penalty after twenty-seven minutes when a header from Josh Turner struck a Clacton player in the area with Mildenhall’s players convinced that it had struck an arm.

The first half had been a positive one for the Seasiders who had looked comfortable but they were rocked by an equaliser just 40 seconds into the second half. A break down the Mildenhall right saw the ball squared to Andrew Wood twenty yards out and he hit a shot that dipped over Joe Playle to bulge the net.

Mildenhall went close again eight minutes later as David Cooper’s cross-cum-shot flashed across the face of goal and only went narrowly wide. However just ten minutes after the interval the visitors did take the lead as Wood flicked on a long ball to strike partner Wayne Proctor who was left woefully undermarked to rifle home.

Clacton were looking all at see with Mildenhall looking dangerous with every attack. A right wing cross saw Steed stoop to head the ball against the upright and cannon away but despite being denied by the woodwork they did not have to wait long for a third as midway through the half Stephen Bell got to the byline on the left and pulled the ball back for Wood to fire home from fifteen yards.

If there was to be any way back for Clacton they need a quick response and they pulled a goal back within two minutes. A good midfield move saw the ball played out to Louie Newland on the right wing. His cross was a good one, curling away from goal and just tantalising Pope to try to claim it allowing Joe Martin to nip in ahead of the keeper and head home.

Clacton went close to an equaliser after a quick free kick eventually led to Karl Andrade firing narrowly wide from twenty yards. However in the closing minutes it was the visitors who created the clear chances as Clacton pushed forward. First a ball through put Proctor clear but with only Playle to beat he put his effort well wide and then another throughball put sub Adarian Judge clear. His effort was half blocked by the advancing Playle with the loose ball falling to Wood who took a touch before firing in his shot which gave Matt Cripps enough time to get position himself on the goal line to block.

However the visitors did seal the points in injury time as a flick on saw Wood and Playle in a race to reach the ball first and as the keeper dived at the edge of the area to smother somehow the ball squirmed underneath him giving the prolific striker the easiest of open goal tap ins to complete his hat trick.