Clapton CFC Men’s First Team battled to a creditable 2-2 draw against high-flying Hutton FC in difficult conditions at the Old Spotted Dog Ground.
CCFC came into this one feeling they needed a win after a disappointing defeat in their last outing at Cannons Wood, following the previous weekend’s draw at home to FC Baresi, a pair that manager Geoff Ocran had targeted for six points.
However, tests in the Thurlow Nunn don’t come much tougher than Hutton FC. The visitors, run as a charity, are one of the largest clubs in Essex with 750 players across 70 teams and perennial play-off contenders, having reached them in the last two seasons. Hutton came into this in excellent form, second in the table, and hungry to avenge their defeat to CCFC earlier in the season.
CCFC would have to be at their best, and weren’t helped by the conditions. With temperatures in the single digits, howling wind, and freezing rain coming down in stair rods, this one had all the hallmarks of a tough physical battle. And so it proved.
Nevertheless, CCFC got off to a dream start. After good early pressure, Sam Cook swung in a cross for Korahn Gayle to nod into the path of the onrushing Fred Taylor. Taylor, who’s enjoying another excellent season in front of goal, made no mistake, sweeping home from a tight angle for his thirteenth of the campaign. 1-0 CCFC.
Things almost got even better a few minutes later. A clumsy Hutton challenge on the edge of the area resulted in a free kick in “James Briggs inevitability” territory. Briggs duly stepped up and beat the goalkeeper with a trademark curling effort, only to see it cannon back off the flat of the crossbar.
The ball span back out to Cook, prowling on the edge of the area, but his bottom corner-bound drive was well saved by the Hutton keeper. Clapton did get a third bite at the cherry as the ball squirmed around the Hutton penalty box, only for Taylor to misplace his usual composure and shoot harmlessly over the bar.
CCFC went in at half-time the much happier team, having created the better chances and largely dominated proceedings. However, Hutton are far too good a side for that to be the final word.
After two substitutions and a tactical rejig, the visitors began the second half strongly. Following two near misses in quick succession, a cross from the Hutton full-back bobbled around the CCFC box. Hutton’s number 7 reacted first, driving the ball under a helpless Jack Francis to equalise. 1-1 and all to play for.
One of the CCFC Men’s First Team’s greatest strengths this season has been their resilience in the face of setbacks, and they proved it again following the equaliser. First, the Hutton goalkeeper was forced into a top-class stop from a seemingly goalbound header. Then, a deep Briggs corner found Cook rising majestically at the far post. His header was powered past the keeper and into the roof of the net, 2-1 CCFC.
Clapton sensed three points and a chance to overtake Lymore Gardens in fourth place and kept pushing for what would likely be a game-clinching third. Nathan Cook went closest, drawing an excellent save from the goalkeeper as his shot nearly crept inside the near post.
Yet for all CCFC’s pressure, it was Hutton who would score next. A free kick from wide dropped at the far post, provoking a goalmouth scramble as the ball wriggled around the area. Once again, Hutton reacted first as their striker prodded home.
Knowing that a point wasn’t ideal, Ocran gambled in the last few minutes. Off came Gayle, Briggs, Julian Austin and Louis Brown; on came David Makisi, Lewis Owiredu, Ross Broadway, and Flavien Stierlen. The sudden injection of pace had the desired effect, with CCFC forcing a succession of corners and going close at the last.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be. After turning down a penalty appeal from CCFC, the referee blew up, bringing a tough encounter in biblical conditions to a close. Despite a performance that promised all three points, CCFC shouldn’t be too downhearted at a draw with one of the division’s form teams. The result sees CCFC stay fifth in the table (albeit with at least one game in hand on all the teams around them) with Rayleigh Town close behind.
CCFC Men’s First Team are next in action at home to old friends Sporting Hackney in the London Senior Trophy on Wednesday (November 26) at 7:45 pm.
Rob Stafford
Photos
