A heavily rotated Clapton CFC Men’s First Team cruised past visitors Sporting Hackney FC in the second round of the London Senior Trophy.
CCFC have had a strange time of it of late. Fifth in the table as we approach the halfway point of the season, and with a couple of games in hand on most of the teams above them, represents a great campaign so far. Yet, as manager Geoff Ocran has mentioned repeatedly, it’s hard to escape the feeling that points have been dropped in recent games.
So, a cup tie under the lights against opposition two divisions beneath CCFC represented a welcome break from the pressures of the league. It was also an opportunity for some of the squad to make a case for a regular first XI berth, with Ocran rotating heavily.
The Parrots (Sporting Hackney’s delightful moniker) also came into this in spotty form, having only recently reversed a losing streak after starting their season promisingly.
Having named an attacking line-up, complete with flying wing-backs Felix Murray and Seb Hartwell pushing high on either touchline, CCFC began on the attack. The game was only a few minutes old when Murray, excellent throughout, popped up with a confident finish at the far post, lashing the ball high into the roof of the net. His first competitive goal for the Men’s First Team after a bagful for the Devs. 1-0 to CCFC.
Sensing a chance to run up a big score and impress Ocran, CCFC’s makeshift side really began to play. The crowd were treated to no-look passes, marauding runs, and snappy interchanges. Most impressive of all, man of the match Hartwell, almost playing as an inverted wing-back, set the tempo in midfield and found centre forward Louis Brown time and again with raking through balls.
Sporting were struggling to remain in the game, and it seemed only a matter of time before CCFC scored again. First, Sam Cook thundered in a free kick from 30 yards, only to see it fly just wide of the upright. Then a Ross Broadway corner found Brown rising to meet it. His close-range header flew into the net before the keeper could react. 2-0 CCFC, and it began to look as though the game might be getting away from Sporting Hackney already.
However, to their credit, Sporting rallied as the clock ticked towards half-time. A first shot of the game was mustered in the final few minutes of the half, although it was far too high to trouble CCFC keeper Chris Mathers. Far more dangerously, Sporting won a central free kick 30 yards out. Few in the ground thought the Parrots’ number 5 would shoot, until his mammoth run up signalled his intentions. The shot when it came was a thunderbolt that flashed just over the bar.
CCFC would have one more chance before the break. Hartwell found Brown again, and a brace seemed inevitable until Sporting’s goalkeeper pulled off the save of the evening to keep things at 2-0. Half-time arrived with CCFC in full control.
Sporting needed something special to find a route back into the game. However, in the end they were given a helping hand from CCFC’s defence. A jinking run from the left from a Sporting forward was stopped by Julian Austin, a half-time substitute for Broadway. The referee deemed it a foul and duly awarded a penalty and a yellow card to Austin.
Up stepped Sporting’s number 7, who coolly slotted the ball down the middle, sending Mathers the wrong way. 2-1, and Sporting Hackney are somehow right back in the game.
CCFC were in danger of losing the initiative, and Ocran responded with a round of fresh legs. On came Cemal Agdelen, Nico Bunduku, and Bailey Pryce for Azariah George-Lawal, Brown, and Cook, respectively.
Agdelen had an immediate impact. His pinpoint through ball found Pete Jamieson, who calmly beat the keeper but, unfortunately, not the post. A melee ensued following the rebound, with the referee halting play due to an injury to the Sporting keeper before anyone in red and white could tuck the ball away.
Nevertheless, it wouldn’t be long before CCFC extended their lead. A final substitution of the evening saw David Makisi on for Flavien Stierlen. A few seconds later, Bunduku became the second player of the night to notch his first goal for CCFC Men’s First Team. A lovely cross was met with a stooping – some claimed diving – header low into the bottom right corner. 3-1 CCFC.
With that, the game ceased as a contest. Sporting seemed to accept they were beaten, and their minds focused back on their league campaign. As such, there was little of note in the final few minutes, aside from an inevitable booking for the Sporting bench after one too many forays outside the technical area. CCFC’s work was done, and most appeared content to knock the ball around as they awaited the final whistle.
Once it came, CCFC could contend themselves with an excellent night’s work and a place in the third round of the competition, away at Tooting Bec, date to be confirmed. Ocran is likely to be very pleased with how his second string acquitted themselves and due a few selection headaches for Saturday’s game.
The CCFC Men’s First Team are next in action away at FC Romania on Saturday, November 29 2025, with a 3pm kick off at Theobalds Lane, Cheshunt, Waltham Cross EN8 8RU.
The Women’s First Team also have a huge home game the following day in the London & South East Regional Women’s Football League Cup third round against a lavishly funded Brentford side. This is the hardest possible draw we could have been given, so the team needs your support. Kick off is at 2pm.
Rob Stafford