The Seasiders put the disappointments of the last week behind them to return to winning ways with a 3-0 victory over Wivenhoe in the Ridgeons League Cup. In truth Clacton always looked in control from the moment Liam Whittaker gave them a ninth minute lead although it wasn’t until the last twenty minutes that they added further goals by Karl Andrade and Aaron Condon.

Clacton’s side saw three changes to the team defeated by Whitton on Saturday with Kyelan Marvell and Andrade replacing James Dunkley and Matt Waters whilst Sean Hillier dropped to the bench in place of Whittaker. This decision was quickly justified as Kevin Coyle did well to create space on the left and whip in a cross which found Whittaker in space in the area. The young striker brought the ball down, skipped around Adam Wilding and slid the ball home to give Clacton a great start.

The first quarter was dominated by the home side who were stroking the ball around well on the greasy surface and went close to increasing their lead after fifteen minutes as a corner fell to Matt Cripps who volleyed just wide from eighteen yards. As the rain intensified, conditions became tougher and the game evened up as Wivenhoe started to compete better with Marvell having to block well when it looked like they had found a way through the Clacton backline.

Although lacking their earlier fluency Clacton were still causing problems as first Coyle fired a left foot shot just wide and then turned provider playing in Andrade who looped the bouncing ball over Wilding but it just dropped wide of the upright. Just before half-time former Seasider Tom Moore tested Joe Playle with a long range free kick with the Clacton custodian taking no chances as he pushed the low, skidding drive away for a corner.

The second half saw the rain abate and with it, initially the goalmouth action with the only moment of note being a deep corner for the visitors which saw Tim Dennis volley goalwards from close range but could only find Playle’s midriff. With a quarter of the match left there was a welcome return for Dan Smith as he came on to replace Lee Barrett in the midfield.

With just under twenty minutes left Clacton did give themselves breathing space as Marvell set Whittaker away on the left and his excellent cross was met five yards out by Andrade who volleyed into the roof of the net to set Clacton on their way to the next round.

Andrade nearly got a third just minutes later as he met a Joe Martin flick on but from a narrow angle could only find the side netting. Clacton did get their third with just three minutes left as Aaron Condon broke down the left channel, outpaced his marker and cut in goalwards to slide a low shot from a tight angle past Wilding to set the seal on the victory.

There was just time for one further moment of entertainment as Beaver went to retrieve a ball on the touchline only to treat the crowd to a full-on slapstick, tread-on-a-banana-skin, Frank Spencer/Norman Wisdom-esque tumble. Amazingly the referee chose to blow for full time rather than issue a yellow card for such a blatant dive!

A welcome return to winning form as Beaver and the boys get ready for a taste of professional football with a visit to the Abbey Stadium on Saturday as they take on CRC.