Clapton CFC Men’s First Team are still searching for their first win after promotion to the Essex Senior Football League after a frustrating defeat in an East London derby.
There were plenty of talking points for those at the Mile End Stadium: the partial solar eclipse 30 minutes before kick-off; the tough pitch conditions in the middle of a drought; a kit clash as both sides played mainly in purple; and a gaggle of geese roosting on the pitch for a lengthy spell.
Team news wise, Adam Sidky, Bailey Pryce and Azariah George-Lawal were out, with Tami Unuefa, Tevis Panariti (making his first start) and James Goldring stepping in. On the bench, Adam Sokhal was selected for a potential debut.
Once underway, it was a nightmare start. Within nine minutes, Sporting Bengal United broke the deadlock. A cross found Kieron Owusu unmarked at the back post and he slotted into the corner for 1-0.
Sporting Bengal were dealing with the pitch better than CCFC and nearly doubled their lead in the 28th minute after a wicked bobble deceived defender Enzo Pina on a through ball, However, Clapton skipper Jack Francis produced a brilliant save from the one-on-one.
CCFC finished the half strongly but just before half-time, a clash of heads saw Samba Badjana and a Sporting Bengal player needing treatment, and Badjana was subbed off at half-time.
Just two minutes into the second period, his replacement Lewis Owiredu took a shot that was tipped over for a corner. From that, Owiredu’s cross was headed in by Junia Charlton for the team’s first goal at Step 5 of the men’s football pyramid.
Momentum was with Clapton now though were lacking any clear-cut chances, the best moment seeing Samir Sedaoui sting the palms of the Sporting goalkeeper from distance.
The home side restored their advantage in the 65th minute on a breakaway. Unuefa did well to get his head on a ball into the box, but the rebound fell kindly for Ashiqur Rahman to fire in from close range. They had a third in the net shortly after, though it was promptly ruled out for a foul, with the scorer shown a yellow card.
Sedaoui tested the home keeper again from outside the box in the 75th minute, but the points were sealed in the 84th minute. Frederick Agyemang’s free-kick on the edge of the box took a heavy deflection off the Clapton wall, wrong-footing Francis and bouncing into the net.
With no league game for two and a half weeks, Geoff Ocran’s side will look to the three cup ties before then to build up confidence.
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