Felixstowe & Walton United FC

MALDON & TIPTREE  1 - 2  FELIXSTOWE & WALTON UNITED 

Hitter at the double as Felixstowe win on the road again

Felixstowe & Walton United made it 13 points from a possible 15 away from home in 2023 with another away win at Maldon & Tiptree. Josh Hitter took his goal tally to five in a week and thirteen for the season with a second half brace to seal a comeback win and another vital three points towards the playoff goal. Unfortunately, the victory was marred by a serious looking knee injury late in the game for George Clarke, with the forward stretchered off and taken to hospital.

The Seasiders were without Noel Aitkens, Leon Ottley-Gooch and Stuart Ainsley, but did welcome back Harry Knock to the bench after injury. Callum Harrison started with Henry Barley and George Clarke coming on as second half substitutes.

Felixstowe were up against a strong, swirling wind off the Estuary in the first half and any attempt to play the ball above head height was thwarted by the elements, despite the conditions, it was still the away side that started the stronger with Zak Brown, Callum Harrison and Ollie Canfer all getting into the box within the first 7 minutes but seeing their crosses cleared. Maldon shot far and wide over the bar on 8 minutes before a subdued home support staged a protest against their manager, former England boss Peter Taylor, on 11 minutes. That did not halt the game and Felixstowe continued to press for the opener, which looked to have come on 20 minutes. Ollie Canfer rose on the penalty spot to attempt a challenge on the home goalkeeper, before the challenge was made the ball was dropped and Dixon-Hedge fell to the ground, allowing Canfer to slot the ball into the empty net. Unfortunately, the referee had blown his whistle instantaneously and to the incredulity of the large away support, the goal was disallowed. 4 minutes later and it was Josh Hitter coming close when he intercepted a cross over from the far left, took it down well and struck the near post with his shot as the keeper bore down on him. Maldon had offered very little going forward thus far but as usual in this league, teams can always find a way into the game and a 5-minute spell against the run of play had Maldon ahead by one goal, but should have been by two. Firstly, on 28 minutes a home break down the right saw Felixstowe gain and then lose the ball in a dangerous position and the home forward burst into the box from an angle and fired across the goal, beating Robinson but striking the inside of the far post, flying back across the six yard box before being cleared, 5 minutes later and the goal did come, another cross from the right was sent back across the box to give Michael Finneran the simple task of converting. Billy Holland didn’t care about the wind, and he tried one of his trademark attempts from inside his own half on 30 minutes, worrying the goalkeeper for a few seconds before he recovered and caught the ball as it was about to level things up. Andre Hasanally then saw his wind-assisted cross curl just past the far post as the half drew to a close.

Felixstowe looked to be heading for a frustrating afternoon as the home defence held firm for the start of the second half, Maldon happy to try and mop up everything the Seasiders were throwing at them whilst creating absolutely nothing going forward. Zak Brown, Canfer and Hasanally all tried to pierce the defensive line with some clever football before Josh Hitter popped up with the equaliser on 60 minutes. A cross over from the right found Hitter alone on the far side of the six-yard box, he outwitted the keeper and fired into the roof of the net from an almost impossible angle to the delight of the away following. Felixstowe sensed the win now and strode forward confidently at every opportunity. Hasanally created space on the left and curled a great shot just past the far post on 62 minutes before Hitter scored what turned out the winner on 68 minutes, Ollie Canfer sent over the cross of the season that evaded the keeper by swinging back out to the incoming Hitter who smashed in his header from a central position. The home side finally sparked to life on 80 minutes, but it took a serious injury to George Clarke that broke up another good Felixstowe move and allowed the Jammers to break. Clarke went down on the edge of the Maldon area, possibly getting his studs caught in the turf? And was clearly in a great deal of pain. With the home goalkeeper immediately calling for assistance for George, the referee carried on play and the home forward saw his shot brilliantly save by Callum Robinson as a goal looked a certainty, with a follow up effort going just over the bar. An 8-minute break in play whilst Clarke was treated and stretchered off the pitch made for a slightly less comfortable finish to the game but Maldon were out of ideas and it was Callum Harrison who very nearly wrapped up the match deep into added time, beating the offside trap and rounding the goalkeeper before perhaps taking one touch too many that allowed the keeper and a defender to recover and challenge before the ball could be slotted home.

Report by Stuart Daynes

Photos by Stefan Peck

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