Clapton CFC Men’s First Team pulled off a stunning away victory over previously unbeaten leaders Hutton which ended their 100 percent record.
Geoff Ocran’s team came into the fixture as clear underdogs after a middling haul of 2 wins out of 4 but delivered their best performance of the season.
The opening period saw a Fred Taylor shot curled over the ball while Andre Odeku tested the keeper from distance. At the other end, Jack Francis was called into action a couple of times and both Adam Sidky and Sam Cook made important blocks.
The first goal often proves crucial and it fell to CCFC on 34 minutes. Flavien Stierlen, making his first start, charged down a 50/50 with the Hutton goalkeeper Stefan Lamacq to finish from a few yards out.
Just before half-time, Taylor almost doubled the lead. Stierlen’s shot was blocked but ricocheted to Taylor, but the keeper scrambled back in time to stop it on the line.
The game tipped further in Clapton’s balance in the 48th minute when Odeku was hauled down from behind on the edge of the box while clean through. Hutton’s Tobi Dehinsilu was shown a straight red card, while James Briggs’ free-kick dragged narrowly wide.
The second goal came on 59 minutes, when a beautiful back-post cross from Julian Austin picked out Stierlen, who powerfully headed it in.
A 77th minute goal for Taylor applied the gloss on the result. He and Austin both went for the ball on the edge of the box before Taylor curled it into the corner for his eighth goal of the season, and his fourth scoring game in a row.
After 3 defeats and a draw for the Men’s First Team (and a defeat for the Women’s First Team in the FA Cup too) we have at last beaten Hutton!
Match highlights
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