Clapton CFC returned to the top of the Eastern Counties League Division One South table with a Friday night win – though they were forced to endure a nail-biting finale.
CCFC could not have asked for a better start as they went in search of a tenth league win in a row. Just nine minutes in, Louis Brown pounced on a hopeful ball from James Briggs to expertly lob the stranded goalkeeper. That was his sixth goal in five games, and ninth overall for the season.
In the 39th minute, Will Miller slotted through a great ball to find Nathan Cook, who evaded the onrushing keeper and scored from the edge of the box. The game seemed wrapped up in the 43rd minute when Fred Taylor did the legwork down the left wing, squaring for Miller to pick his spot for a third goal in four appearances. 3-0 at half-time, but Dunmow had been the better side.
In the 81st minute, former Ipswich Town youth player Kolade Salaudeen pulled a goal back. After a further Dunmow goal on 86 minutes, the nerves began to jangle. A lapse in concentration was punished by debutant Ben McCrow – one of five of the Dunmow team who have recently joined from Heybridge Swifts. As the clock ticked past 90 minutes, Dunmow had a shot cleared off the line, or possibly off the post, during a mad scramble from a corner.
Dunmow have recently changed ownership, management and in fact their entire squad and are looking to haul themselves away from the relegation battle. Though they are without a win in 14, they will feel they deserved to take something out of the game. For Clapton, it was a crucial three points to move temporarily back at the summit, though Hutton may leapfrog us again on Saturday.