Clacton's golfers made the most of home advantage to progress through to the first round proper of this year's Thornton Challenge Cup.

In near perfect conditions at the West Road course, they triumphed 11.5 to 3.5 over Frinton - although there was a time when it promised to be much closer than that.

The home side got off to almost the perfect start when they secured the lead in the morning foursomes, dropping only half a point before lunch.

Teenagers Matt Baker and Billy Kyle coasted to victory 8&7 over Stuart Grimwade and Phil Ashenden, while Nick Starling and Andy Hobbs had a comfortable 5&4 win over Owen Goldsmith and Jeff Zetter.

Jiwan Rai and Paul Maskell recorded a 5&3 victory over Gavin Cowell and James Hide and Ben Herbert and Arron Ward won two-up against Adam Gifford and Iain Quick.

The only glimmer of hope for the visitors came from Kevin Maleary and Sam Johnston, who secured a hard-fought half against Mark Chamberlain and Dan Clark.

With a comfortable lead in the bag, Clacton took a strong advantage into the afternoon singles.

But when they lost three of the first four matches the tide could easily have turned.

Clacton captain Norman Messenger admitted afterwards that the match was tighter than the scoreline may suggest.

"Frinton got off to a good start in the singles and there were a few other close matches out on the course which could have gone either way," he said.

"There was some excellent golf played by both sides and I am just pleased that we have made it through to the next round."

The experienced Quick beat Maskell 5&4, Herbert lost out to Maleary 3&1 and Grimwade defeated Kyle (one-up) after the Clacton youngster had come back from four down to lead one up going to the 17th hole.

It gave the visitors a good platform to launch a comeback but in the end it wasn't to be.

The ever-reliable Baker continued his fantastic record in the competition to give his side another point with a 4&3 win over Gifford and the last six matches all went the home side's way.

Rai beat Cowell 8&7, Clark defeated Johnston 5&4 and Nick Starling came home 6&5 against Ashenden.

The matches between Chamberlain and Goldsmith and Ward and Hide were much closer affairs but in both cases the Clacton players won one-up.

In the final match on the card, Hobbs triumphed over Zetter 3&2.

Frinton were missing several of their first choice players while Clacton were without one of their stalwarts, Stewart Locke.

Clacton progress to take on Bush Hill Park on May 3.