Honours even at the Old Spotted Dog Ground as Clapton CFC Men’s First Team battle to a 2-2 draw with fellow promotion chasers Newbury Forest FC.
CCFC and Newbury Forest began the day within a point of each other in the table, with both teams starting the season well. On paper, this looked like a tough East London derby against another of the division’s form teams, and so it proved.
The game began with an impeccably observed minute’s silence in memory of long-time CCFC volunteer and much-missed friend Jason Gosling. Rest in power, Jason. There is a fundraiser in Jason’s memory here in aid of two charities close to his heart.
Clapton were forced into a last-minute change as Tami Unuefa was ruled out through injury just before kick-off, with Dean Bouho slotting in at left-back in his place.
Newbury Forest had the better of the opening exchanges, with CCFC relying on some heroic defending and no small amount of luck to avoid going behind. First, Jeff Twumasi saved our midfield’s blushes with a goal-denying sliding challenge after a dangerous loss of possession.
Ten minutes later, luck and a lack of composure combined to deny Newbury Forest. Another midfield mix-up led to the Newbury Forest number nine rounding keeper Jack Francis, only to roll his shot across the open net and wide of the far post.
CCFC overcame those early wobbles to take the lead in the 21st minute. A James Briggs inswinger found Adam Sidky, who, after holding off two defenders, powered an unstoppable header past the Newbury Forest keeper.
From there, CCFC probably had the best of the next ten to fifteen minutes. Sidky went close again, meeting another Briggs delivery at the near post, but this time headed narrowly over. However, CCFC were dealt a further defensive blow in the 35th minute when Bouho went down injured and had to be replaced by Will Wright.
For all CCFC’s chances, Newbury Forest continued to display why they were a place higher in the table going into this game. A narrow offside decision denied them an equaliser halfway through the first half, and they wouldn’t have to wait long for a goal. A debatable sliding challenge in the CCFC box was deemed a penalty by the official (although few of the crowd agreed). Up stepped Newbury Forest’s Bradley Ismalli to power the ball into the bottom right corner, just evading Francis’s dive.
CCFC fans’ sense of injustice wasn’t quelled a few minutes later when a deliberate trip on Fred Taylor, perhaps warranted more. Nor was it improved when Jacob Wintour, clean through on goal, was brought down by the keeper, only for the referee to wave play on.
However, the crowd’s indignation turned to joy on the stroke of half-time to put CCFC 2-1 up at the break. Veteran midfielder and returning hero Nathan Cook scored a peach of a goal, crashing a beautiful left-footed strike from outside the box in off the underside of the bar.
The second half began in much the same vein as the first, with both teams pushing for another goal. Both sides had their goalkeepers to thank for the lack of change in the scoreline. Newbury Forest were denied by a brilliant save from Francis, charging off his line to avert what looked like a certain goal. Meanwhile, Cook saw his goal-bound effort well saved by the Forest goalkeeper.
But, as the game entered its critical later stages, it was the visitors who began to look most likely to score. Things somehow stayed level when Newbury Forest hit the underside of the bar and the post in the space of two minutes. The pressure was bound to tell eventually, and in the 72nd minute, it did. Newbury Forest finally drew level with a well-taken goal from Andy Morris.
Both teams pushed hard for a winner in the remaining twenty or so minutes. However, in truth, neither team fashioned much in the way of clear-cut chances, despite good spells of pressure from both.
In the end, 2-2 probably represented a fair result against tough opposition, who we expect to be right up there come the end of the season. Geoff Ocran’s side now faces a month on the road, starting with a trip to Brimsdown FC in the FA Vase on Saturday.
Finally, good luck and congratulations to Tami Unuefa and Jacob Wintour – two of the season’s standout players – who head off to Nottingham and Bristol University’s dreaming spires after the game. We’re sure to miss them both, but it’s not farewell, as Tami and Jake will hopefully be available during the holidays.
Rob Stafford
Photos
