03/01/2026 – REPORT – Clacton Regent FC versus Frinton & Walton FC

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE

DIVISION ONE

CLACTON REGENT FC.           5.         FRINTON & WALTON FC.                   3.        

Date:   03/01/2026.                                      Venue: Plough Corner, Little Clacton.

            On behalf of the ESBFL, we wish you all a Happy New Year and that your football fortunes improve, starting today, but on a very cold Saturday afternoon where only ten matches that survived, of which six were played on 3G pitches, the other twenty-one falling by the wayside.

            Clacton Regent FC joined the ESBFL at the start of the season and have a number of players who have played at a higher level, their expectancy is high and today they started in fifth place in Division One, local rivals Frinton & Walton sat in ninth place but had beaten fourth placed Prettygate, last time out, so I was expecting a close fought match.

            Today’s Match Official was Gordon Farrington who would be assisted by Club volunteers, he declared that the pitch was good to start, as did Neil Lawson, who was in the middle of the other Division One match played at Plough Corner, involving Tavern FC (3) and Roman Rovers FC (2), their biggest problem was the low sun shining right down the pitch.

            Frinton & Walton kicked off but the first foul, a clumsy one was by Bell on Andrade, Taylor took the free kick but straight to keeper, Gibson, Lebrett cleared further up field, from the keepers throw out, then Payne gave chase to a forward ball from Fuller (T) which forced Hunt to concede a throw in from which Fuller (T) sent a shot directly towards keeper, Lawrence. Clacton Regent, as expected, were quicker to the ball with Frinton & Walton somewhat hesitant to put in a challenge and this aspect was evident on five minutes when QUINN TAYLOR scored from close range, his low shot beating the dive of keeper, Gibson, hitting the inside of the post before settling in the back of the net. Taylor shot wide when well placed soon after his opening goal, then Lebrett fouled Taylor mid-way in his own half, the visitors cleared the danger and then made a promising break. Attridge started an attack down the left side his pass into a central area saw Fuller (F) strike a rising shot that cleared the crossbar, Lebrett who had already committed two fouls was then spoken too for a third foul on Andrade.

            Payne struck a speculative shot from thirty yards out that keeper Lawrence fielded effortlessly on his goal-line, Heffer blocked a run by Mayes just outside the penalty area, and the game swung again to the other end where Hiller (J) found Taylor but keeper, Gibson was untroubled. On eighteen minutes, Frinton & Walton drew level, Fuller (T) started the move down the right side, Payne gave chase against Pryor and from his low near post cross there was FREDDIE FULLER sneaking in ahead of his defender to nudge the ball home. Twenty minutes in and from a throw in taken by Hunt, Hillier (P) shafted the ball wide from outside the penalty area, and I remarked to a spectator that my shadow was almost halfway towards the centre-circle! Central defender, Spacey defended well against Blackman who had been played through by Clowsley, when Andrade fouled Spacey the free kick taken by Lebrett looped straight to keeper, Lawrence.

            As we approached the end of the first thirty minutes, the visitors having gone behind early on, had scored an equaliser and had raised their game, Hale fouled Attridge and Spacey at the same time in his desperation to win the ball back whilst laying on his back on the hard ground. A shot from Hale flew straight to keeper, Gibson, Hiller (J) also tried his luck, but keeper Gibson was equal to the low shot then Frinton & Walton were rewarded for their persistence. A long forward ball down the left side saw OLIVER DAWSON-DRAGISIC chase the ball, getting the better of Pryor, before stepping inside to send a low driven shot past keeper, Lawrence, as the home team questioned their defending. The half finished with Mayes making a strong run down the left side beating Clowsley and Pryor before over-running the ball out for a goal-kick.

HALF-TIME:    1 – 2.

            Clacton Regent restarted this match after replacing Hillier (P) with Jacobs, and immediately, forced a corner, taken by Taylor but comfortably fielded by keeper, Gibson. Lebrett fouled Hunt, Hale was then tripped up and from Taylor’s free kick, Heffer rose to head goalwards, keeper, Gibson spilled the ball as he landed which allowed Bell to hammer the ball clear. Fuller (F) was injured following a challenge by Hunt, but despite receiving treatment he could not continue and Merry was sent on as his replacement. A throw in from Mitchell fell to Mayes who set up Dawson-Dragisic, but he elected to pass the ball on to Lebrett who shot wide. It was now noticeable that some players were finding it difficult to keep their feet, that said, their choice of footwear and dare I say it, shin-pads was debatable, those observations had not stopped Lebrett, for the visitors, who was increasingly influential through midfield. On fifty-eight minutes Clacton Regent replaced Hillier (J) with Russell, a corner taken by Taylor was headed out by Fuller (T), to Hale whose shot was turned into the net by KARL ANDRADE, the Assistant Referees flag had been raised and after a short conversation the match official awarded the goal.

            Perhaps unsettled by this equaliser, Frinton & Walton got them selves in a muddle defensively when keeper, Gibson and defenders Spacey and Heighes failed to clear effectively but when they did eventually get the ball forward, Mayes and Dawson-Dragisic should have made an error, by Heffer, who slipped over, count, with keeper Lawrence saving smartly at his near post. Clacton Regent regained the lead on sixty-five minutes, again it was the result of a defensive mix-up that allowed predatory KARL ANDRADE to score from close range. The home team’s lead was increased on seventy-five minutes; Andrade evaded a challenge from Fuller (T) and squared the ball to GEORGE RUSSELL who scored with ease, the visitors defence was again missing!

            As we entered the last fifteen minutes, both teams were pushing forward and mistakes were being made, a poor throw-out by keeper, Gibson fell to Taylor who, rather than control the ball elected to shoot first time, but well wide. With thirteen minutes remaining Frinton & Walton scored their third goal, Mayes got the better of Hunt and OLIVER DAWSON-DRAGISIC was on hand to score from close range, but Clacton Regent immediately hit back with a fifth goal when the unmarked GEORGE RUSSELL arrived at the far post to score. Dawson-Dragisic was shown a yellow card indicating a “sin-bin” offence for dissent, the visitors replaced the injured Spacey with Mundee, then Andrade ran through but cleared the crossbar with a rising effort. With time running out, three minutes had been indicated, Clacton Regent replaced Taylor with Crudgington, by now my shadow reached the far side of the pitch and the match was concluded, fortuitously as conditions near the end had deteriorated further.

FULL TIME:     5 – 3.

            Well, I expected a close match and that’s what transpired, both teams had a go, as they say, conditions were not easy and both teams should be commended for not being reckless and apart from a late incident there was little sign of dissent. With this victory, Clacton Regent move above Prettygate who lost at home against leaders Gosfield United, Frinton & Walton stay ninth in a division they were elevated too, at the start of this season.

Turning to my choice of Star player, another difficult choice, but for me, Lebrett in the Frinton & Walton midfield covered every blade of grass, never shirked a challenge and tried to encourage his team-mates throughout.

Teams:

CLACTON REGENT FC:

Colours:                        Blue & White Shirts, Blue Shorts and Blue & White Socks.

Team:

Oscar Lawrence., Freddie Pryor., Callum Hunt., Wayne Blackman., Thomas Heffer., Lee Clowsley., Joseph Hillier., Paul Hillier., Cian Hale., Karl Andrade (C)., Quinn Taylor.

Manager:                      Terry Rymer.

Used Substitutes:          George Russell., Connor Crudgington., Spencer Jacobs.

Unused Substitutes:      George Parlour., Harry Moore.

FRINTON & WALTON FC       

Colours:                        Yellow Shirts, Blue Shorts and Yellow Socks.

Team:

Jack Gibson., Teddie Fuller., Cameron Bell., Luke Attridge., Shane Spacey., Reiss Heighes., Freddie Fuller., Connor Lebrett., Jake Mayes (C)., Oliver Dawson-Dragisic., Mitchell Payne.

Manager:                      Fred Fuller.

Used Substitutes:          John-James Mundee., McKenzie Merry.

Unused Substitutes:      Alfie Brooks., Zack Winslett.

MATCH OFFICIALS:

Referee:                       Gordon Farrington.

STAR PLAYER:            Connor LEBRETT                    (FRINTON & WALTON FC)