Felixstowe & Walton United FC

BRENTWOOD TOWN  1  -  1  FELIXSTOWE & WALTON UNITED 

Seasiders settle for a point after injury time heartbreak

Felixstowe & Walton United had to settle for a point on the opening day of the Isthmian North League season at Brentwood Town, an injury time equaliser for the home side cancelling out Josh Hitter’s 76^th minute goal that had looked to have won the game on a sweltering afternoon in Essex.

Henry Barley started on the bench for the Seasiders due to a slight injury concern alongside new signings Tom Maycock and Harry Blackburn. The other newcomers to the side, Callum Harrison and Milo Grimes both started the game against a side that are already being tipped as title favourites after their playoff final appearance last season and the further strengthening of their squad during the summer.

With the thermometer touching 35 degrees pitch side it was understandable that the first half was played at a relatively slow pace, Felixstowe showing far more inclination to play good passing football and the home side looking to bomb balls forward at every opportunity. Zak Brown had a decent shout for a penalty on 6 minutes as he was clattered into inside the box but the referee had other ideas. Brown was looking very lively and was just short of connecting on two balls over the top as the half wore on. Brentwood came close to opening the scoring on 29 minutes, striking the post with a header from a corner. Billy Holland tested the goalkeeper from distance on 32 minutes and Milo Grimes headed inches over the bar from a free kick. The home side missed a golden opportunity from six yards on 41 minutes, the attacker somehow skying the ball way over the bar.

Felixstowe really stepped up a gear second half and dominated the game. Several well-positioned free kicks came to nothing as the pressure increased on the home side. Noel Aitkens whipped in an excellent cross on 50 minutes, the defender could only divert the ball towards goal and the ball skimmed the crossbar and out to safety. Tom Richardson for Brentwood found himself clean through on goal in the 53^rd minute but scuffed his shot straight at Callum Robinson and Josh Hitter fired just over two minutes later when set through by Billy Holland’s delightful pass. Charlie Warren was having a great game and he came close on 61 minutes as he turned in the box and shot over the bar. Warren was again in the thick of the action on 70 minutes as he powered his way into the box and his cross/shot went just wide as Zak Brown tried to connect at the far post. The deadlock was broken on 76 minutes and it was the Seasiders who took the lead, Josh Hitter superbly converting a Zak Brown cross before celebrating with the supporters from Suffolk. Warren came close again soon after as the Blues were resorted to lumping the ball into the box from distance and from a succession of long throw-ins. Zak Brown made the home keeper work on 85 minutes and Hitter shot wide as the clock ticked over into added on time. With 94 minutes on the clock one final long throw into the area found Callum Leahy and he fired home at the back post to grab an unlikely point for Brentwood. A nervy last two minutes followed as Brentwood sensed a winner but Felixstowe held out to get the point that was the very least that they deserved.

Stuart Boardley’s interview after the game is on our YouTube channel and our social media.

Report by Stuart Daynes

Photos by Thomas Bradford

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