A disappointing start to 2026 for the Clapton CFC Men’s First Team, who fell 2-0 to Brimsdown FC at the Old Spotted Dog Ground.
FA Cup Third Round weekend is English football’s yearly celebration of the upset. And, while defeat at home to Brimsdown FC – who started the day just four places and seven points below CCFC – was not exactly an upset, the manner of the away side’s dominance was perhaps surprising.
CCFC began 2026 in promising form, having obliterated Barkingside and fought back from a losing position to defeat NW London in their last two outings. However, not for the first time this season, CCFC’s momentum would be derailed by a postponement (last week’s game at AS London was called off due to a frozen 3G pitch).
Brimsdown FC, alma mater of one David Beckham in their previous guise as Brimsdown Rovers, are a familiar foe this season. The Enfield-based side knocked us out of the FA Vase on penalties earlier in the season, although CCFC did win 3-2 at their place in the league thanks to goals from Sam Cook and Fred Taylor.
Unfortunately, there was to be no repeat at the OSD. CCFC started slowly, a familiar malady this season, particularly at home. While little of note happened in the first twenty minutes, in truth, the pressure was all coming from Brimsdown. Although Clapton did at least look threatening from dead balls, with Adam Sidky’s header from a James Briggs free-kick drawing a smart save from the keeper.
The visitors provide a couple of unheeded warnings before taking the lead. First, full-back Tami Unuefa was forced into a last-ditch clearance over the bar. Then, Brimsdown’s number 14 missed a free header after being found unmarked in the box, and Clapton survived, for now.
Brimsdown’s number 14 would be back a few minutes later, making no mistake this time. Some poor CCFC defending from a Brimsdown corner saw the ball fall to him on the edge of the area. The resulting low drive found its way into the bottom right corner, just beyond the fingertips of Jack Francis. 32 minutes played, 1-0 to Brimsdown and fully deserved.
CCFC did seem to wake up at this point and began to threaten a little. Both Fred Taylor and Briggs fashioned speculative efforts, although neither particularly troubled the Brimsdown keeper. However, things were about to go from bad to worse.
Sam Cook, who was enjoying a solid afternoon in defence, hooked a clearance out of play and went down holding his hamstring. CCFC’s destroyer-in-chief did his best to soldier on, but, after going down twice in two minutes, head coach Geoff Ocran had little choice but to make the substitution. Off came Cook, on went Dean Bouho, and that was that for a disappointing first half.
Ocran will have been hoping for better from his red and white team in the second half. What he got instead was a doubling of the deficit. With the half barely two minutes old, another dangerous Brimsdown break found their left winger (number 17) free just inside the box. Another low, unerring finish left Francis stranded and Clapton with it all to do.
Ocran rolled the dice. On came this season’s third-highest scorer, Cameron Gordon, for Nico Bunduku. Meanwhile, Jeff Twumasi replaced Pete Jamieson in an attempt to add more steel to a midfield that had been played through one too many times.
The changes had some effect. CCFC began to threaten more regularly, creating several chances from dead-ball situations. The pick of the bunch was probably a free kick that found Felix Murray rising at the far post. Unfortunately, Murray slightly mistimed his jump, sending the ball over the crossbar rather than into the top corner.
Clapton continued to push, but to no avail. A desperate goalmouth scramble looked like an excellent chance to halve the deficit, only for the ball to end up in the arms of the Brimsdown number 1.
Ocran made further changes, bringing on Andre Odeku and Korahn Gayle for Murray and Julian Austin, and pushing David Makisi to left wing back. However, CCFC’s attempts to drag themselves back into the game left worrying gaps for Brimsdown to exploit. Man-of-the-match Francis was forced into several crucial saves in the second half to keep Clapton in it in theory. Most notably, the CCFC keeper saved from point-blank when he and Bouho were left facing three Brimsdown attackers in full flight.
However, it was to prove all in vain, despite a late chance for Gayle. Brimsdown finished the match as worthy 2-0 winners, with CCFC never really displaying the form that had seen them climb as high as third in the table by the end of 2025.
An off day for Ocran and his team. Fortunately, there’s ample opportunity to put things right quickly, with CCFC Men’s First Team in action away at Tooting Bec FC in the London Senior Trophy next Saturday (17th January). Kick off is at 3 pm.
Rob Stafford
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