Clapton CFC Men’s First Team’s frustrating relationship with the BBC Essex Senior Cup continued as we were knocked out at home for the fourth time in four seasons.
Geoff Ocran made nine changes to the team which started against Long Melford three days earlier, with just Ross Broadway and James Goldring keeping their places. Striker Matthew Abebrese, midfielder Adam Sokhal and defenders Daniel Adjei and Tiere Beaupierre all made their debuts or full debuts.
Despite Wivenhoe Town sitting a tier below, they had already dispatched another Essex Senior Football League side Frenford in the FA Vase the previous weekend so were not to be under-estimated.
After a cagey start, Clapton began to impose themselves as the first half wore on but without testing Wivenhoe too heavily, mainly resorting to snapshots from distance. Just four minutes into the second half, however, the visitors struck the crucial first goal. A right-wing cross found in-form striker Harry Miller, who made no mistake by steering a free header past Chris Mathers.
Clapton reshuffled their ranks from the bench and the pressure eventually paid off in the 77th minute. Left-back Enzo Pina, who had pushed further up, broke clear and held his nerve to beat the keeper for his first goal for the club.
With no extra time scheduled and penalty kicks looming, both sides pushed late into the night. And it was Wivenhoe who found the killer touch. In the 89th minute, another cross saw substitute George Day head home and restore Wivenhoe’s advantage. Minutes later, as Clapton threw men forward in desperation during five added minutes, Mason Gilliam finished off a quick counter-attack to seal a 3–1 victory for the visitors.
It’s fair to say that the competition is low down on the management’s priorities, being a competition that realistically we could not win. However, defeat wasn’t the ideal preparation going into Saturday’s big test in the Men’s FA Cup against Concord Rangers.
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