RIDGEONS LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION Clacton Town 5 Soham Town Rangers 4 SOHAM striker Charles Libam was up-staged by Clacton s Sean Hillier, whose first of four strikes was his 100th goal in his 200th appearance for the Seasiders. It was a nine-goal treat

RIDGEONS LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION

Clacton Town 5

Soham Town Rangers 4

SOHAM striker Charles Libam was up-staged by Clacton's Sean Hillier, whose first of four strikes was his 100th goal in his 200th appearance for the Seasiders.

It was a nine-goal treat for the neutrals, but Soham boss Ian Benjamin was left exasperated by his team's defence, which leaked three goals in nine minutes to ensure that Libam's hat-trick was in vain.

Rangers got off to a dream start when Libam headed home Keke St Hilaire's corner in the fifth minute.

The hosts pulled level five minutes later when Keith Hetherington scored his 50th Clacton goal, after Soham failed to clear a free-kick.

The Soham backline then caved in and conceded three goals in nine minutes.

Hillier's landmark goal in the 23rd minute put Clacton in front, and the same man made it 3-1 when he beat Simon Flanz to a challenge in the goalmouth after Dean Greygoose had been lobbed.

Hillier then completed a first-half hat-trick with a finish from close-range after a low cross from the by-line.

Soham gave themselves a life-line when Libam made it 4-2 in the 48th minute, by knocking in the rebound after Andy Coleman headed into the crossbar following a corner.

But Clacton re-established their three-goal cushion when Hillier scored a diving header at the far post after a fine cross from the right.

Soham refused to surrender and Libam made it 5-3 with a close-range strike after another St Hilaire corner in the 84th minute, and their final goal came three minutes later substitute Scott Carter coolly finished from a one-on-one situation after being played in by Libam.

Benjamin said: "Our defence was very, very poor and I really feel for our forward players, and Michael Simpson in midfield, who deserved a lot more."

- Soham's Cambs Invitation Cup fixture at home to Over was postponed on Tuesday because of a waterlogged pitch. Re-arrangements are to be confirmed.

Soham are away to Norwich United in the league on Saturday and they play Fakenham at home in the Ridgeons League Cup Quarter-Final the following Tuesday.