A ten-man CCFC battled to a first point in the Essex Senior Football League with an entertaining draw against last season’s Eastern Counties League Division One South champions Hutton.

Hutton are familiar foes to those of a CCFC persuasion. The Men’s First Team spent the second half of the 2025/26 chasing the Essex side down on the way to promotion. Although Hutton eventually won the title, CCFC have a decent record against the visitors, taking four points from our two meetings last season, including an excellent 3-0 away win. So, hopes were high for a first victory in the Essex Senior Football League in the build up to the game. Hutton, however, were also looking for their first win after promotion.

Injuries and holidays are still having an effect on the early season line-up, with Adam Sidky ruled out but Noah Adejokun was back for a second game in a row due to no game for his other club, Cannons Wood.

Barely three minutes had passed when the visitors broke through CCFC’s back line, forcing keeper Jack Francis down to make a good stop. As has often been the case this season, an early scare shook Clapton into life. Some fast feet and a lovely give and go between Samba Badjana and Samir Sedaoui sent the former away down the left. The resulting cross had pace and accuracy, but just missed the head of the on-rushing Adejokun. This was to be the story of the afternoon.

Four minutes later it was Adejokun’s turn to test the Hutton keeper. The forward, much missed last season, wriggled free and fizzed in a low shot from a tight angle, but it was well saved by the visitor’s stopper. The opening minutes continued in much the same vein, with CCFC looking the more threatening without creating anything clear cut.

Then, on 28 minutes, a hammer blow. On a Hutton counter-attack, Junia Charlton tussled with the visiting striker as he approached the box. The referee blew for a free-kick and went to discuss with his assistant whether to brandish a yellow or red card. Some in the crowd felt Tiere Beaupierre at right-back could have closed it down, but the officials decided it was clear goalscoring opportunity and off Charlton went. CCFC would have to earn their points the hard way.

Fortunately, the resulting free-kick was thumped straight at Francis, while shortly afterwards former Old Spotted Dog favourite Johnny Ashman raised some smiles when he tried his luck with a dive in the CCFC area and received a yellow. 

Although many in the ground may have begun to fear the worst, if anything being down to ten seemed to spur CCFC on, with the home side finishing the first half strongly. In the 34th minute, a poorly cleared corner landed at the feet of Fred Taylor on the edge of the D. Taylor picked his spot, and lashed it towards the corner, only to be denied by a great save from visiting keeper Stefan Lamacq.

Taylor would go even closer a few minutes later. His free kick from just outside the edge of the Hutton area dipped wickedly, drawing probably the best save of the afternoon as Lamacq managed to get fingertips onto the ball to tip it over. 

That proved to be the last act of the first half. 0-0 at the break and CCFC justifiably proud of the resilience shown to outplay Hutton with a man less.

Having made it to half-time unscathed, manager Geoff Ocran shored things up. The first act of the second half was a substitution, off came the sparkling Sedaoui and on came experienced defender Daniel Adjei for his league debut. The change in shape certainly worked in adding defensive solidity, but it also drew some of the sting from the game as the first twenty minutes meandered by.

Then on 66 minutes, Taylor raced clear in the Hutton box, only to be checked by a crude trip. Penalty. Up stepped Taylor with the chance to put CCFC on top, and very possibly en-route to three points given Hutton’s lack of threat. Sadly it wasn’t to be. The penalty flew over the crossbar.

Still sensing a victory, CCFC again went close a few minutes later. Veteran midfielder and fan favourite Nathan Cook threaded a delightful ball through the lines to Adejokun, who attempted to beat the keeper at his near post. It was close, so close that many of the watching crowd thought it was in but, sadly, the rippling was from the side netting.

A word for man-of-the-match Badjana who departed as one of a raft of subs to a well-deserved ovation after another brilliant performance in the heart of midfield. I’m assured his song is in the works.

The changes had the desired effect and set up a frenetic last few minutes, in which CCFC threw everything at Hutton. First, in the 91st minute, sub Adam Sokhal almost nicked it with a low shot, forcing a great save from Lamacq, who shone throughout. CCFC went close again from the next corner. After the ball found its way to sub Lewis Owiredu he steered it goalward, only to be denied again by another smart tip around the post.

The next attempt came just two minutes later. This time, the keeper was well beaten by sub Matthew Abebrese’s drive from the edge of the area. Unfortunately, the ball fizzed wide of the upright, denying Abebrese a heroic league debut by a matter of millimetres. There wasn’t to be another chance; the referee blew up for full time shortly afterwards.

Wwith eleven men for the full game, CCFC would feel this would have been a win. However, a draw in spite of Hutton’s numerical superiority, isn’t a result to be sniffed at Ocran and team will hope that a first point at this level, and the blooding of new signings can be the catalyst for bigger things to come.

Two successive away trips now beckon. First up, Basildon United in the league, followed by a trip to Heybridge Swifts in the second qualifying round of the FA Vase.

Rob Stafford

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