Clapton CFC Men’s First Team made it two away wins and two clean sheets in the space of four days with a clinical 3-0 victory in Wood Green.
CCFC started the brighter at a chilly New River Stadium, with Enzo Pina going so close from distance that many of the travelling support initially thought it was in. Andre Odeku made the breakthrough in the 10th minute, with a fine turn and shot having received the ball with his back to goal.
Other good chances came and went but as the first half wore on, AS London had their own opportunities to level. The closest was when a low cross pinged across the goal-line, just a few yards out, but the ball was guided over by the home striker.
Clapton were dealt a blow when the in-form Pina was forced off with a hamstring injury, replaced by Dean Bouho, who put in a great shift filling in at left-back.
In the 54th minute, Odeku found himself in the sin bin for ten minutes following a heated exchange with the referee. During his absence, CCFC dug in and kept it tight, although goalkeeper Jack Francis had to pull off a vital near-post save.
Perhaps the sin bin gave Odeku a bit of a rest because he came back on fired up to make amends, and scored his second in the 73rd minute. Adam Sidky’s shot was saved on to the post and Odeku reacted quickest to force the ball home.
It looked like the game was sewn up -as long as the fog stayed away – and even more so in the 79th minute when an AS London player was red carded. After Fred Taylor was fouled on the edge of the area, a home player inexplicably booted the ball at Taylor lying on the 3G pitch, giving the ref no choice.
With the man advantage and fresh legs in the form of substitutes Julian Austin, Korahn Gayle, Junia Charlton, and Louis Brown, Clapton took total control. In the fourth minute of added time, Taylor got the goal his industrious performance deserved, placing a left-footed finish into the corner.
The win moves CCFC up to third as we welcome fourth placed Stansted on Saturday.