Football Review – A Non-League Football Review

West Essex sealed their first win of the 2024/25 season with a victory over FC Clacton at Wadham Lodge on Tuesday. Both sides had come into the game with losses in their opening game of the new campaign; Clacton facing a 3-0 defeat at home to Barking and West losing 2-0 to Great Wakering Rovers so it had become an important match for both sides.

The opening goal came in the 30th minute when Joel Lamb ran onto a ball aimed towards the back post and headed it beyond Jonathan Hardy before the hosts doubled with Zak Oliver poking the ball beyond Hardy from close range.

The two goals had come after a dominate period for West Essex. Ryan Ramsey had the first shot of the game but the midfielders effort was deflected just wide before the home side came close to netting in the 12th minute as the ball fell kindly to Yemi Adelani, but the forwards effort from a couple of yards out was send beyond the post. Oliver Travell looked to create a moment of magic as he cut inside, creating some space for himself, but his effort on goal was fired over the bar.

The away sides first decent effort on goal didn’t come until 5th minute of added time in the first half but the shot was fired over the bar. An almost stunning goal was nearly scored by Oliver, but the goal scorers’ volley was agonisingly wide of the target before two late chances for Clacton in the first half saw Lewis Edwards pull of an outstanding save before a second bite of the cherry was headed just wide.

The game was sealed in the 81st minute as Nathan Braithwaite tucked a free-kick from the edge of the box home, but the second half had been more even than the first.

A good header and a effort that had gone just wide had denied West the third they sought before FC Clacton began to put some moves of their own together, but an effort from Emmanuel Ikwuegbu was cleared off the line before Ikwuegbu’s other shot was blocked before it could cause any real trouble.

After the third goal, Braithwaite looked to double this tally for the evening as he fired an effort just wide before the introduction of Arion Svarqa had given the away side some home of at least scoring. The Clacton man did well to hold onto the ball in one move before linking up with teammate Dion Tansele, but the latters effort was held by the keeper.

Their second defeat by three goals put the Seasiders at the foot of the table whilst the win moved West Essex to mid-table with them playing Ilford and White Ensign respectively next.