Clacton were denied a deserved share of the spoils as Sudbury snatched a 90th-minute winner at Rush Green Bowl.

The Seasiders equalised twice through Sean Hillier and Steff Falla, only for the visitors to move back to the top of the premier division courtesy of a last-gasp header by Aaron Gardiner.

Sudbury got off to the perfect start when, after 15 minutes, Falla inadvertently flicked a long ball forward over the head of keeper Neil Stanbridge.

The ball bounced off the left-hand post before being bundled over the line by Gary Bennett.

Town were level on the half-hour mark, though, when Hillier's floated free-kick from 25 yards drifted over the head of Sudbury shotstopper Ben Nower.

Two more goals followed in a frenetic end to the first half. Bennett latched onto a loose ball in the box before slotting past Stanbridge.

Then Falla made up for his earlier error by prodding home Shane Bailey's right-wing corner.

Stanbridge made a spectacular save from Sam Banya after the break, and then the hit-man saw a venomous 20-yard shot crash off the bar.

It looked as though honours would finish even until, in time added on, Sudbury nicked the points.

Speaking after the game on Tuesday, Clacton boss Mick Potter said: "We more than matched them so the only disappointment was the result, not the performance.

"A draw would have been a fair outcome. They shaded the first half but we had the better of things after the break.

"To make things worse, their winner came from a corner which should never have been. The ball went out for a throw.

"Overall, though, I was very happy with the way we played against one of the best sides in the division. The conditions were bad but we played the better football."

Clacton had no fixture at the weekend due to the postponement of their premier division clash with Swaffham.

Published Wednesday, April 10, 2002