Felixstowe & Walton United FC

It’s often said that momentum is what truly counts as teams approach the final days in the football season. If that’s true, then with everything to play for, an outsider would probably have believed The Seasiders would  approach this top-of-the-table clash with Coggeshall with self-confidence in spades. An unbeaten run of seven games, a bucketful of goals and no breaches in the defence since the 17^th March is the perfect definition of momentum. But truth be told there must have been nerves prior to kick off on the part of both sides and both sets of fans. For each of the clubs this was history in the making; highest position ever for both clubs in their respective histories and a league title achingly near.

Fortunately the rain stayed away on Tuesday. But the fans most certainly did not, with 1,541 people turning up to set a Thurlow Nunn League Record for the Premier Division. This was going to be one of those games where the right mental approach would count for both players and spectators alike.

There were two changes for The Seasiders, Stuart Ainsley in for Ethan Clarke and Sheridan Driver replaced a somewhat unfortunate Jamal Wiggins. Under clear skies and a cold wind, the game got underway with many people jockeying for position to get a good view. Unfortunately, for the home fans, what they saw was a determined and very hardworking Coggeshall making it clear to everyone from the very start that they had come for the title and they were not going to let it slip from their grasp.

After an early scramble in Coggeshall’s penalty area, with Joe Francis centrally involved, Aaron Cosgrave coming close for the visitors only to be denied by Rhys Barber, a foul on Danny Crump and a Coggeshall appeal for handball turned down, a pattern began to develop which saw the visitors gradually putting pressure on the home side.

The breakthrough came on 18 minutes when Jamie Shaw edged The Seedgrowers ahead following a cross from Curtis Haynes-Brown, just 3 minutes later Cosgrave extended the away side’s lead following some tricky footwork inside the box. The game was being played at a frantic pace with incidents at both ends. Kye Ruel was the first to go into the referee’s book minutes before Stuart Boardley hit the Seedgrowers bar from 25 yards.

If anyone thought we would roll over and surrender, they were very much mistaken when captain Barber headed home following a corner on the half hour.

As the first half progressed it was becoming clear that with the ball on the deck, Felixstowe were beginning to show they could get back into the game. The problem was adapting to the pace and when Coggeshall dictated the pattern of play, Felixstowe found the going tough.

With a scoreline of 2-1 to Coggeshall, the second half promised to be an exciting affair that could go either way. But that was not how things panned out at all.  An impressive run from Cosgrave was brought to a halt by Dan Davis whose name went into the book. The resulting free kick from the edge of the box from Connor Hubble went straight in, giving the visitors the perfect start to the second half.

Just 2 minutes later Seasiders’ hearts were broken when captain Luke Wilson converted from the penalty spot, putting Coggeshall 4-1 up. Immediately after this, Jamal Wiggins replaced Sheridan Driver as the home side tried to reorganize. Wiggins netted within 4 minutes of coming on, reducing the deficit to two and Stuart Ainsley tested James Brangrove in goal, but the game was becoming fractured.

Various substitutions were made, seeing Usman Adeniji, Josce Syrett and Sean Radley on for the visitors with Miles Powell and Callum Bennett on for Sam Forde and Kye Ruel for the home side. Taylor Hasting received a yellow with 15 minutes remaining and all the while Coggeshall were inching closer and closer to the league title.

The Seasiders tried in vain to close the gap, coming close after a Boardley free kick led to a scramble in the penalty area, with the entire Coggeshall defence believing Francis was offside.

When referee Aaron Farmer put an end to proceedings with Coggeshall celebrating a league title, Felixstowe were understandably disappointed, as were the home fans. But The Seasiders will be playing in Step 4 next season and have offered the fans a truly amazing season. There can be no doubt that these two sides will very much look forward to meeting each other next season with a Suffolk / Essex rivalry building nicely.

Felixstowe: Goals: Barber, Wiggins.

Yellow: Hastings, Boardley, Davis, Ruel.

Subs: Wiggins for Driver 55, Powell for Ford 60, Bennett for Ruel 70.

Coggeshall: Goals: Wilson, Monk, Hubble, Cosgrave

Yellow: Cocklin, Syrett

Subs: Syrett for Wall 45, Adeniji for Monk 55, Radley for Cunningham 60.

Our congratulations go to all at Coggeshall Town on their success, not just in this game but over the course of the season, League tables don't lie and they are deservedly crowned as Champions. Have a good summer and we will see you on the other side as we both venture into Step 4 football for the first time!

To all our supporters who turned out in force, to all the Seedgrowers supporters who had a good representation at the Goldstar, and to all the neutrals, thanks for coming and helping to set a Thurlow Nunn League attendance record of 1,541. Thank You!