The result was secondary to the occasion as Clapton CFC hosted transatlantic friends New York International FC at the Old Spotted Dog Ground.
A bigger-than-expected crowd of 781 came along, possibly as an antidote to the next day’s World Cup final, possibly to see the Adejokun brothers Noah and Josh on opposite sides.
On the pitch, the Clapton CFC Men’s First Team put on an impressive display of attacking football, running out 6–1 winners. However the visitors had only arrived two days earlier and had played the previous day against Bishops Stortford Swifts too.
Clapton fielded a strong lineup and it didn’t take long for the opener through Junia Charlton in the 4th minute, turning home a corner.
New York International settled into the game, having a goal ruled out for offside before finding an equaliser in the 22nd minute. A neat ball over the top sent their No. 14 through one-on-one, and he coolly converted to make it 1–1.
In the 29th minute, Noah Adejokun controlled a ball beautifully on his thigh before finishing to restore the home side’s lead.
Noah grabbed his second of the afternoon in the 42nd minute to make it 3–1.
Just before the whistle blew for half-time, Joel Akuwudike produced the moment of the match, firing a spectacular 30-yard free-kick that curled delightfully away from the keeper and into the net to send Clapton into the break 4–1 up.
Clapton shuffled the pack for the second half but the pattern continued and in the 51st minute, Fred Taylor played a slick one-two with Flavien Stierlen before finishing calmly to stretch the lead to 5–1.
Around the same time, former Clapton player Josh Adejokun—playing for NYIFC—was substituted off to a warm ovation from the Old Spotted Dog faithful, though he would briefly re-enter the pitch later in the half under rolling sub rules.
The hosts had a golden opportunity to add a sixth in the 61st minute when younger brother Noah was shoved in the back inside the box. Noah stepped up to take the penalty himself, but the New York goalkeeper produced a brilliant save high to his left to deny him a hat-trick.
In the 86th minute when Nico Bunduku rose to head home Clapton’s sixth goal of the afternoon. Bunduku thought he had doubled his tally deep into stoppage time, but his effort was ruled out by the linesman’s flag.
The final whistle blew at 6–1, capping off a thoroughly entertaining afternoon of summer football. Credit goes to New York International FC for a hard-fought effort despite their heavy travel schedule.
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