It didn’t start well, though. The sting of conceding with the very last kick of the game seven days ago seemed to linger, and within minutes Clacton took advantage, bundling home from a corner. A nervous opening and certainly not what the Green Army had travelled for.

Gradually, FCP settled. Passes started to click, the tempo lifted, and the visitors found their stride.

⚽ Goal — Atif
New signing Junior lit up the left wing, skipping past his man and sliding a teasing ball across goal. Atif ghosted in at the back post to tap home, sending his dad (and the Green Army) into wild celebrations. 1–1.

FCP kept pushing. Chances for Ayman and Vito were denied by a busy Clacton keeper, but the breakthrough came just before the break.

⚽ Goal — Mo Janneh
A corner whipped into the box, Mo timed his leap perfectly and powered a header into the net. 2–1 to FCP, a lead they fully deserved as the half closed out.

The second half continued in the same fashion, FCP in control, Clacton spending more time with the physio than on their feet. The linesman was probably wondering if overtime pay applied.

⚽ Goal — Ayman
A flowing team move ended with Ayman slotting home to seal the points. 3–1, and the away support could start the celebrations.

Full-time
A shaky start, but a composed and dominant finish. Some lovely football, three well taken goals, and valuable minutes for new faces. A proper bounce back performance.

Started like we’d just rolled off the coach… conceded from a corner ?

Then woke up and turned it on:
⚽ Atif – Dad’s still celebrating somewhere in the stands
⚽ Mo Janneh – Leapt like a salmon, powered it home
⚽ Ayman – Finished off a move so slick it should’ve had its own highlight reel

Clacton’s physio had more touches than some of their players. Lino’s still checking his watch for added time.

3 goals. 3 points. Green Army rolling on.

Goals:
Atif, Mo, Ayman

Green Army MOTM: Mo