Clapton CFC Men’s First Team secured their place in next week’s Eastern Counties League Division One South play-off final with a commanding 4-1 victory over Lymore Gardens.
Captain and goalkeeper Jack Francis missed his first league game of the season due to concussion, with Chris Mathers coming in for his league debut – if the play-offs count as league games, that is.
It looked like Andre Odeku had scored after six minutes when rounding the keeper and slotting home but the celebrations were cut short by an offside flag.
The breakthrough eventually came in the 19th minute. After Louis Brown’s initial effort was parried, Nathan Cook was the quickest to react to the loose ball and smashed home the rebound.
Lymore were playing well and threatened to level things up ten minutes later, but Mathers produced a brilliant save to keep the lead intact. However, two goals in six minutes just before half-time left them a mountain to climb.
Firstly on 39 minutes, Louis Brown was tripped in the area as he chased a rebound. James Briggs stepped up to bury the penalty with ice-cold composure, though seemed to injure himself in the process.
Just before the half-time whistle, Fred Taylor whipped a pinpoint cross to the far post, where Adam Sidky was waiting to volley home a decisive third.
The result was put beyond doubt in the 59th minute when Cook bagged his second of the afternoon, nabbing the ball on the edge of the box and finishing calmly.
Lymore did manage a consolation goal in the 77th minute to make it 4-1 and as the clock ticked down, Mathers was called into action again, making a sharp save low to his left.
However, CCFC held on relatively comfortably to qualify for the final, which will be against Rayleigh Town at the Old Spotted Dog Ground on Saturday (May 2), kick off 3pm.
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