The Clapton CFC Men’s First Team secured their third win and third clean sheet in a week in a gritty 1-0 win over Stansted at the Old Spotted Dog Ground.
Clapton were forced into an early change just 14 minutes in, with Felix Murray replacing the injured Bailey Pryce at left-back. Fred Taylor and Andre Odeku were looking dangerous and both tested the visiting goalkeeper.
The breakthrough arrived in the 26th minute via a familiar route. James Briggs swung in a precise corner, and centre-back Adam Sidky rose highest at the far post to power a header back across goal and into the opposite corner. That was Sidky’s fourth goal of the season.
Stansted had the ball in the net themselves just minutes later, but the assistant referee’s flag came to the rescue.
The half-time whistle brought drama with Briggs sin-binned for an exchange of words with the officials as the teams left the pitch. That meant Clapton had to play the first 10 minutes of the second half with ten men. Stansted nearly capitalised immediately, rattling the crossbar from close range in the 46th minute.
Clapton navigated the ten-minute disadvantage and regained their footing once Briggs returned. Pete Jamieson forced a save from the Stansted keeper in the 60th minute as CCFC looked to kill the game off.
Stansted were dominating possession but the home defence was preventing them from carving out clear-cut chances. At the other end Taylor rounded the keeper but with the angle narrowing he cut it back to Twumasi, who fired over.
Late into the ten minutes of added time, the substituted Briggs was shown a second yellow card while on the bench, presumably for time wasting Despite the late chaos, CCFC held firm.
Next up, a trip to Enfield Borough on Wednesday night and then FC Baresi away on Saturday.
Photos
