2. Tiptree United vs FC Clacton: 18/09/07

18th September 2007
Tiptree United 4 FC Clacton 0, Chapel Road, Tiptree
Att: 78

If I'd shut my eyes I could have sworn it was winter. With no 'Ricay or Southend game to go to, I chose the one that was nearest my work: purely, you understand, because I was feeling lazy and couldn't be arsed to drive anywhere.

Unfortunately I finish work at half past five so even after I'd fetched the car and got a Subway it was still only six pm, and with usual wandering companion Scott tucked away in the warm at his home, I was on my own for this one. I arrived at Tiptree's ground at the early hour of ten past six - the bar wasn't even open so I trotted off to find somewhere to while away three-quarters of an hour or so with my paper. The nearest pub was deserted, not one car graced the car park and despite the adverts boasting that food would be served all day and proudly announcing the opening hours, the door remained firmly shut. Perhaps this was another one of those pubs that just couldn't compete any more. Undeterred, I walked on - although now the awareness that it was indeed a chilly evening was beginning to stir in my mind. Thankfully, a few hundred yards up the road was The Anchor Inn - I strode through the door to find a handful of people loosely congregated around the bar not talking very much. A funny place this, it didn't seem so much like a 'locals only' pub where you get dodgy looks for opening the door (let alone ordering a beer) rather than a pub that doesn't see unfamiliar faces very often. The locals ignored me and continued to discuss the subject of so-and-so's "loose" daughter while I surveyed the beverage options: the pub got extra marks for having a local Suffolk cider, which was suitably caustic yet enjoyable. After another half of the interesting brew and a thorough read of the paper I trotted back off to the ground, via the local chippy who furnished me with a rather large bag of chips and a saveloy for the meagre sum of a quid and a half. Bargain.

Back at Chapel Road, I paid my five quid to get in, I suppose I could have played the student card for a three quid saving but now I've got a job I don't need to be a pikey any more. The programme was a quid and well-produced: professionally printed and well presented, a bit short on original articles but you can't expect too much from a club that plays six divisions below the league I suppose. I was saddened to read that they're leaving Chapel Road next year for a new stadium. The official I talked to later on seemed glad, but I liked the ground. A small seated stand is placed bang in the middle of the left touchline was the main covered accomodation but a length of covering also ran halfway along the top end of the ground, clinging on the the back of the clubhouse. The right touchline was just a small hardstanding path backed by a line of thickly-leaved conifers (with, interestingly, an oak in the middle) so it was a struggle to get past the line of Clacton fans on my way to the far end. Half the back end was also tree-lined, with a residential garden backing on to the fencing - the seats in this garden facing the pitch suggested that the occupants are not averse to watching the Jam Makers for free. Back up the other end, a small practise area opened out next to the seating with the PA hut next to the path leading back up to the 'turnstile' (actually just an opening in side of the changing rooms. It had clearly seen better days but was well tended but completely surrounded by housing, so their progression would always be limited by this I guess unless they moved.

Tiptree's opponents on this rather bracing evening were FC Clacton, a club bourne from the ashes of the once-mighty Southern league side Clacton Town. I've seen too many old famous clubs go belly up in the modern climate, victim of the clamour to get up the league pyramid at all costs or merely bad management - Enfield are another example, they died in June, to be reborn as Enfield 1893: given their troubles finding a ground perhaps they would have been better off merging with Enfield Town. Nevertheless, FCC came into this game on the back of a relegation and a hefty injury list and confidence in the camp was probably short.
The game started at a breakneck pace, Tiptree shot wide early on before FCC settled and bossed for a bit - they should really have gone in front but for poor finishing. Unsurprisingly it was one of the only pieces of quality play in the half that led to Tiptree's opener after fourteen minutes, a sweeping passing move saw the ball worked forward down the middle before the onrushing winger was put through on goal, entering the penalty area from an angle, flummoxing his defender and cooly slotting the ball past the despairing Clacton 'keeper. 1-0 up, the Jam Makers grew in confidence: the aforementioned keeper was called into action again a few minutes later, spectacularly tipping a thumping header onto the bar before flicking the ball away from the fast approaching attacker to safety. The seasiders were now all at sea, and a long kick from Tiptree's custodian was flicked on by Tiptree's no.9 but his fellow striker could only hit his shot straight at the keeper. Thankfully the visitors soon regained their composure and began to boss the midfield but upfront they were uninspiring - Tiptree's edge in the striker department was shown up once again as they broke forward quickly just before half time, although Clacton's overworked 'keeper did well to smother the ball.

Half time then, and off to the bar to check the half time scores in today's other games. The bar itself was cosy, smaller than a lot of non-league grounds which have cavernous, impersonal clubhouses. A big screen showed sky in the corner and the barkeep was splitting his time between pouring pints and rushing over to the attached food bar (the hatch of which opened out into the ground) to serve up burgers and chips. The seats were all in the club colours, which was a nice touch as well, and a couple of framed Tiptree shirts scattered the walls. The provision of free sausage rolls at the bar was welcome, as the cold was beginning to get to me a bit! A quick visit to the john to relieve myself - there were no pitchside toilets here - and back out I went, braving the cold once more.

The second period started as the first had finished. Clacton pressed, Tiptree hit them on the break. Really, the Jam Makers should have extended their lead in the first half and they were just as profligate now; twice their no. 7 shot straight at the keeper when in one on one situations. At the other end, Clacton just couldn't get the ball on target and the frustration was evident. However, on 66 minutes the game went a bit sour. A mistimed challenge by Tiptree's 7 saw him boot the defender's standing leg, however the said leg didn't fall over with the rest of the player and he suffered a rather nasty dislocated kneecap and fracture of the upper part of his fibula. Ouch. The screams caused the ref to halt the game while the ambulance was called, and no one I talked to really thought the game would continue. While we waited, I sourced a club badge for my 'badge scarf' and chatted to the locals. Overall we waited for over half an hour and just as the ambulance was packing up ready to take the player away the ref came out, chatted to the managers and clearly decided to continue the game. After the resumption the game had lost a lot of it's fire and Clacton were understandably subdued, it was only ten minutes before the Tiptree 7 - yes, him again - went on a maurauding run, rounded the centre-half and thumped his shot powerfully into the net from ten yards . Five minutes later it was three, a shot from the edge of a packed area finding it's way into the net. Clacton were lost now, their players swept away by a dominant swell of red and black and they could have fallen further behind before the fourth went in: headed firmly in from a corner thanks to some very slack marking. The whistle was mere seconds later, but there were no celebrations. A good game marred by a horrendous injury. I wish the Clacton player a very speedy recovery.