31/01/2026 – REPORT – Clacton Regent FC versus The Rodings & Little Waltham FC
ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE
DIVISION ONE
CLACTON REGENT FC. 3. THE RODINGS & LITTLE WALTHAM FC. 0.
Date: 31st January 2026. Venue: Clacton Leisure Centre (3G)
With matches falling by the wayside, due to the wet conditions, I ventured down to Vista Road, Clacton-On-Sea, where third placed Clacton Regent FC were to play second placed The Rodings & Little Waltham FC on the 3G pitch. Today’s visitors had enjoyed a five-goal romp when the teams met back in late August, the home team have strengthened their squad since then and have won all of their four matches played in January and are clearly looking for promotion but Gosfield United FC currently head the division by eight points, this was an important match for both teams, although the visitors do have games in hand on today’s opponents.
Today’s Match Official was Michael Wallace who would have Club Assistants working alongside him, this pitch is relatively new to the town and as expected looked in good shape with clear markings, the white ones, of course!
The Rodings & Little Waltham kicked off, lost possession very early on, in fact, the second minute, and when Russell burst down the right side, his excellent driven cross was turned home in style by KARL ANDARDE who clipped the ball over the diving keeper, Jonson (L). The visitors immediately set about scoring an equaliser, Rosewall used his pace to get down the right side, substitute keeper, Heffer, showed his handling skills with a comfortable catch, then Gilbert forced a corner, again the home keeper held the high kick taken by Johnson (K). On five minutes, Rosewall set off on another attack, defender Hunt caught up but impeded the attacker just outside the penalty area, was Hunt the last man, that’s debatable, a free kick and a caution were deemed sufficient, the free kick was easily cleared. On eleven minutes, keeper, Heffer, moved out of goal into central defence and Lawrence took over in goal with Hunt being withdrawn, might have been tactical after his early caution, this far the match had been fast and furious as both teams tried to dominate. When Rosewall tried once more to get the better of the home defenders, Heffer stepped in to tackle and move the ball forward to Newland, who thought he was fouled inside the penalty area, but team-mate Andrade had retained possession but shot narrowly wide. When Armitage picked up the loose ball inside his own half, his forward pass saw Johnson (R) and, Rosewall, set off from the halfway line, beating the high defensive line, only Walmsley was there to chase back towards keeper, Lawrence. Keeper, Lawrence spread himself to save the shot from Rosewall who ran to his right to retrieve the loose ball, in doing so, defender, Gregory ran across to push Rosewall to the ground, surely, that had to be a penalty kick, but no, play was waved on, even the home management admitted later that it should have been a spot kick!
For The Rodings and Little Waltham, their danger player was Rosewall, his pace and dribbling had already been seen and would have to be checked but the home defence, Heffer and then Gregory did just that but tended to launch the ball high towards Andrade, where O’Dwyer and Watson were equally unfazed. Russell was again back defending when Rosewall threatened, getting away with what looked like a foul, a corner taken by Johnson (K) was cleared, but recirculated back to Johnson (K) who was caught offside. Newland fouled Johnson (K) inside the centre-circle, but both teams were trying to play football, it was competitive and the pace was maintained as we approached the mid-way point of the first half, the home team were perhaps quicker into any challenge. Andrade sent a fine pass wide to Newland whose shot was saved by keeper, Johnson (L), Andrade, again showed some neat touches, his hold up play and quick turns were pivotal, and he was giving the visitors defence a hard time, again shooting wide, having worked some space inside the penalty area.
Clacton Regent scored their second goal on thirty-three minutes, a corner taken on the left side flew to the far post where Heffer and Gregory challenged, with the visitors defence flat footed the ball was played into the six-yard box where the unmarked JAMES GREGORY had the simplest of tasks to slot the ball home for his first goal of the season. The referee took advantage of this stoppage in play to speak to both team captains, frustrations and tensions had built up in this match as the half progressed, this was an opportune time to quell any further issues. Keeper, Johnson (L) was seen racing outside his penalty area to thwart Andrade, the ball bounced wide, from where Walmsley tried a shot that was collected on his goal-line by the keeper, who had recovered from his excursions. Keeper, Johnson (L) then saved from Russell, his clearance found Gilbert, but Heffer and Gregory stopped any further advancement, Johnson (R), fouled Newland, Russell took the free kick, but Heffer headed wide at the far post, and a goal kick followed. A fine run by Clowsley, down the left side, picking up on a pass from Pryor, his angled shot was saved at the near post by keeper, Johnson (L), Walmsley, drew a foul off Johnson (K), Newland took the free kick, again Heffer rose above everyone else but headed wide, half-time followed, time for a breather!
HALF-TIME: 2 – 0.
The Rodings & Little Waltham made their first change before the restart, with Gilbert withdrawn to allow Monk to enter play, Clacton Regent kicked off and Russell sent the ball long towards Andrade whose shot on the run forced a fine diving save from keeper, Johnson (L), thus far the busiest of the two custodians. When Newland chanced his arm with a rising left-footed shot, keeper, Johnson (L) was seen flying high to his left to palm the ball over the crossbar, conceding a corner, which was cleared, but only to Newland who was fouled by O’Dwyer who received a caution. Newland took the free kick, Heffer and Gregory challenged with keeper, Johnson (L) who was adjudged to have caught Heffer in the face with his flailing hand, Heffer received treatment for a bloodied lip, but with a penalty kick awarded, up stepped Andrade, who skied the ball high over the crossbar, a big miss. A corner from Monk followed when Rosewall harassed Clowsley, the ball as headed out towards Armitage whose thunderous volley was cleared off the goal-line by Clowsley, with keeper, Lawrence well beaten.
Walmsley, was the next home player to threaten, showing good footwork, he worked his way down the left side, but Elliott stuck to his defensive duties to stem that problem, sending the ball forward to Rosewall, but Gregory stood firm. On fifty-eight minutes Clacton Regent replaced Russell with Taylor, but it was The Rodings & Little Waltham who next had a chance, Rosewall broke through to find Gibson whose fine effort was pushed aside at full stretch by keeper, Lawrence. On sixty-one minutes Newlove, just after a fine mazy run across the home penalty area, was replaced by Gold, Andrade had been fouled, Clowsley worked the free kick to Andrade but keeper, Johnson (L) saved and cleared up field, Armitage took the ball on and forced keeper, Lawrence into another noteworthy save before Johnson (L) was called upon to save from Newland, this was end-to-end play now, the visitors despite being two goals behind were giving everything. More substitutions followed on sixty-eight minutes, The Rodings & Little Waltham replaced Gibson with Blackburn and on seventy-four minutes when Clacton Regent sent on Hillier (J) and Wallis for Hillier (P) and Newland. When a poor clearance by the visitors fell to Hiller (J) he hit an absolute screamer that cannoned down off the crossbar and O’Dwyer cleared, the home team at this late stage continued to press and looked comfortable for the three points. Hale evaded three challenges running across the edge of the penalty area but gained a free kick when Elliott dived in, Andrade took this free kick but sent the ball well wide.
Taylor struck a fine effort goalwards, keeper, Johnson (L) made a fine save pushing the ball wide of the far post, Walmsley was quickest to the loose ball, but his driven effort flew across the open goal area with nobody able to apply the finishing touch. Another cross from Taylor was punched clear by keeper, Johnson (L) with Hiller (J) driving the loose ball wide of the goal, Wallis fouled Johnson (R), inside the centre-circle, looked clumsy, but that’s what Wallis is good at, breaking up threatening play from the opposition, the free kick taken by Monk, fell to Armitage who blasted the ball wide. As The Rodings & Little Waltham pressed forward, Johnson (K) was fouled outside the penalty area, by Hillier (J), this free kick was headed clear by Gregory and with the visitor’s defence exposed, play broke to the other end, but another poor clearance fell to KARL ANDRADE who ran through to score his second and his teams third. Sadly, Walmsley, over celebrated this goal in the face of a visiting player and was shown a yellow card with the referee clearly ordering him to the “sin-bin” but he had not heard the instruction and moved back onto the pitch toward the referee, however, Walmsley was very fortunate not be shown a further card for a blatant slap on Johnson (R) who fell to the ground! The final action saw Taylor work his way into a shooting chance but blazed wide, perhaps going for glory!
FULL TIME: 3 – 0.
The scoreline depicts the general passage of play, Clacton Regent scored three, missed a penalty, but it could have been double on chances created but spurned, or saved by an inspired visiting keeper. Both teams deserve credit for their overall effort, tackles were fierce and evenly contested but this game is about scoring and not conceding, with this defeat, The Rodings & Little Waltham slip below Clacton Regent in the table, this on a goal difference of one, but the visitors have two matches in hand but difficult games ahead.
Turning to my choice of Star player, I couldn’t ignore the effort by both teams and it’s often difficult to choose any individuals from either team, either by naming them or omitting others efforts, however, there was one exception Luke Johnson, goalkeeper for The Rodings & Little Waltham, he conceded three, conceded a penalty, which was not scored but he made countless saves to keep the score down.
Teams:
CLACTON REGENT FC:
Colours: Blue & White Shirts, Blue Shorts and Blue & White Socks.
Team:
Thomas Heffer., Lee Clowsley., Callum Hunt., James Gregory., Cian Hale., George Russell., Paul Hillier., Karl Andrade (C)., Tom Newland., Dominic Walmsley., Freddie Pryor.
Manager: Terry Rymer.
Assistant Manager: Sean Hillier.
Used Substitutes: Oscar Lawrence., Joseph Hillier., Darryl Wallis., Quinn Taylor.
THE RODINGS & LITTLE WALTHAM FC
Colours: Orange Shirt, Orange Shorts and Orange Socks.
Team:
Luke Johnson., Curtis Elliott., Harry O’Dwyer., James Watson., Kyle Johnson (C)., Teddy Armitage., Cameron Gibson., Jamie Rosewall., Ryan Johnson., Charlie Gilbert., Jake Newlove.
Manager: Richard James.
Assistant Manager: Gary Johnson.
Used Substitutes: Ryan Gold., Daniel Blackburn., Alfie Monk.
Unused Substitutes: Jamie Bibb.
MATCH OFFICIALS:
Referee: Michael Wallace.
STAR PLAYER: Luke JOHNSON (THE RODINGS & LITTLE WALTHAM FC)
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