They say a trip to the seaside is good for your health, as is five a day, and on Saturday The Bridge did both scoring 5 on a day at the seaside. After the disappointing but still a point at Coggeshall in the last game, this road trip was expected to be quite a tough one. The Seasiders have only lost twice at home this season to Saffron Walden Town and Romford, so another away point would have been welcome but The Bridge had a fine day at the seaside and deservedly took all three home.

This was a masterclass in finishing and taking your chances and even before The Bridge went in front, they went close with a cross by Alfie Whiteaker headed away by the Clacton defence but only to Tobi Coker who volleyed just over the bar. This was soon followed by a poor clearance from Clacton keeper Michael Betts that fell to Sam Owusu who fed Sherri Artmeladze. Sherri cut inside and his shot was going in before Betts tipped it over.

Clacton had their moments too and they attacked the Hullbridge right-side and a cross into the Hullbridge box should have been finished by Toby Harms but his shot was over the bar and The Bridge escaped. The Bridge were having the most goal attempts though and Tobi Coker had another one as Adam Topley sent him through and he rounded the keeper but couldn’t squeeze the ball home as he ran out of pitch.

Hullbridge would not be denied though and a neat move by Alfie Whiteaker and Tobi Coker fed Sherri Artmeladze whose shot came back off the post and Adam Topley fired home the rebound from 12 yards to put The Bridge 1-0 up. Soon after it was two as Billy Willis’s throw was headed on by Jon Evans and Tobi won the ball back off the Clacton defence, then turned them inside out leaving three defenders floundering as he weaved into the box and fired into the top left corner to take The Bridge into half time with a 2-0 advantage.

As everybody headed back for the second half after a half time ice cream and a candyfloss, The Bridge continued their domination of the game although The Seasiders went close with a shot wide by the excellently named Jettluke Hogan after The Bridge didn’t fully clear a Clacton cross. Soon though it was 3-0 to the visitors as another quality Hullbridge move involving Sherri, Sam, and Tobi saw Tobi run into the box and take out the keeper with a cross that Jon Evans nearly managed to put past three Clacton defenders who cleared it off the line. Jon would not be denied though as he jumped up quickly to prod home the rebound for 3-0.

The Hullbridge tide kept coming in waves and fortress Clacton was crumbling like a sandcastle as a good advantage played by the lino and the ref saw Sherri use that advantage to run into the box and play a short pass to Tobi who turned and sent the Clacton defender the wrong way and rolled the ball into the net for 4-0. 4-0 up and maybe slightly over-confident, The Bridge gave the ball away at the back and Clacton could have made it 4-1 but the lobbed effort was just wide but then Clacton did the same, only when Owen Bellamy snatched the ball he ran on and didn’t miss as he superbly chipped Betts for 5-0. Celebration doughnuts were required, this was turning into an unforgettable day out by the sea.

A late rally by Clacton distorted the scoreline as The Seasiders tried to salvage something from the day and, when a Clacton corner was not fully cleared, Charlie Collis hit the post with an effort from the edge of the box. The Bridge then went down the other end and Jon Evans fed Sherri whose shot was on target but saved by the keeper.

The only dent in The Bridge's performance came with two late goals as a long ball was headed out by keeper Bradley Davison, aiming for two clean sheets in a row, and Clacton passed into the box from the Hullbridge right and Noah Asterlind scored from the edge of the box. There was still time for a second from the home side as a mis-hit Crossfield pass went to Jamie Eveleigh whose shot moved about a bit but Brad would probably have been disappointed not to have saved and as it rebounded off him Jenson Mulqueen tapped home Clacton’s second.

An excellent performance by The Bridge who obviously enjoyed the sea air and mastered the bumpy playing surface to stroll to victory. “Oh, we do like to be beside the seaside”, well, we do when The Bridge plays like this. Back in the playoff picture, it’s a massive game against Sporting Bengal United next at the T.J. Cottis. You might not need your bucket and spade but you might need your shades if The Bridge put in another sparkling performance…

Another Toppers midfield masterclass as he mastered the bumpy surface and strolled around midfield as if he was taking a stroll along the prom. A good finish for the first goal, a strolling masterclass performance, a MOM award...an absolute seaside special.