Despite a battling performance FC Clacton were unable to stop the rot at the Rush Green Bowl, going down 3-2 against Hadleigh United.  Kevin Coyle gave the Seasiders a first half lead before the visitors hit back to lead 3-1. A David Coyle goal deep into injury time gave Clacton a glimmer of hope but there simply wasn’t enough time to salvage a point.

Manager Andy Taylor made three changes to his starting line up with Lee Peacock, Billy Wales and Jake Clowsley coming into the side at the expense of Tom Austin, Aaron Keaney and Josh Grimes. It was Clowsley’s first start of the season and he showed flashes of the talent that has brought him so many goals for the under 18’s, occupying the Hadleigh defence with his pace, movement and willingness to run at defenders.

In a tight opening it was Hadleigh who created the better early opportunities with two left wing crosses being squandered, first when a header was cleared by Joe Martin and then when Ollie Canfer wildy swung at the dropping ball connecting only with air. With twenty minutes gone Clacton were fortunate when a corner saw the ball pinball around the six yard box before somehow ending up in the hands of Ed Wootten. In between times Clacton had just two efforts, a long range effort from Aaron Condon that fizzed wide and a shot from Kevin Coyle that went over.

Midway through the half the Clacton captain gave his side the lead when a defensive mix up inside the area presented him the ball eight yards out on the right side of goal and he squeezed his shot under Daniel Heath to open the scoring.

However the lead lasted just five minutes as Hadleigh levelled matters thanks to a soft penalty, Luke Ingram bursting into the box, touching the ball heavily past Lee Peacock and then getting the contact he was looking for, going down over Peacock’s outstretched leg. Chris McLaughlin made no mistake to convert the spot kick.

Before half time there was a further chance for each team as a neat move involving David Coyle, Clowsley and Aaron Condon saw the latters effort flash across goal and then the visitors had a chance as Ben Deacon latched onto a long ball but fired over.

Six minutes after half time Hadleigh took the lead when an excellent inswinging corner by Ingram was headed home by Liam Jennings. It could have been three just a couple of minutes later when Mark Gaisford flicked down a free kick which Danny Allen lashed over when he probably should have at least of hit the target.

Clacton missed a glorious chance to equalise just after the hour mark when Kevin Coyle’s low cross found brother David just six yards out and looking destined to score before his effort was denied Heath. Ten minutes later the Seasiders were ruing that save as Ingram fired in a twenty five yard effort that bounced just in front of Wootten, defeating the keepers dive on it’s way into the corner. Substitute Jamie Cowan could have sealed the game with thirteen minutes left when he beat the offside trap on the left but could only fire wide.

Clacton gave themselves the smallest glimmer of hope in stoppage time as David Coyle bundled home a corner but with just a minute left there was no time for a last ditch cavalry charge and, despite an reasonable performance and committed display the Seasiders were left contemplating their ninth successive defeat.