Non-League and Academy football writer

I was in attendance at the Old Spotted Dog Ground on Saturday afternoon, for the Clapton Community FC versus Greenways FC, league fixture, on the opening day of the 2024/25 SCEFL Division One season. Clapton Community have been moved into the SCEFL Division One for the 2024/25 season. Greenways finished bottom off this league last season (2023/24), but they received a reprieve from relegation. This step 6 match was won 1-0 by Clapton Community, in what was a hard fought win for the home team, despite them being on top for most of the game. Clapton Community’s goalkeeper – Jack Francis, made an excellent and hugely important save very late on in the match. Clapton Community started the game really well, asserting themselves well on the game. The first chance of the game was created by the home team, with Julian Austin’s low cross into the centre of the Greenways penalty area, being met by Greenways defender Lewis McIntyre. His attempted clearance had to be well kept out by Greenways goalkeeper Jamie Kelly, with the home team unable to score on the follow-up.

Clapton Community continued to dominate possession of the ball, and their next effort of the game came from Joel Akuwudike, who after travelling inside with the ball from right flank, before entering the Greenways box, would then see his low effort saved by Kelly. The next chance of the game followed soon after for Clapton Community, as Noah Salama hit an effort wide of goal from the centre of the Greenways penalty area, after meeting Joel Akuwudike’s cross. As the game progressed, the likelihood of Clapton Community scoring the opening goal of the game increased. And they very almost managed that, as from Noah Adejokun’s looping volleyed effort following a cross to the left-hand side of the Greeenways box, the ball was spectacularly cleared off the goal-line by defender Lewis Cook. After Dean Bouho was unable to finish, the ball then came back to Noah Adejokun inside of the penalty area, but his effort went wide of the goal.

There was a penalty shout from some of the Clapton Community players, following a challenge on Julian Austin on the right-hand side of the Greenways box, as his low effort was gathered by Kelly. Clapton Community would continue to impress during the remainder of the first half. Jamie Kelly did well to push away Noah Salama’s volleyed effort from inside of the Greenways box, after he had met Noah Adejokun’s cross. The final chance/effort of the first half saw Ross Broadway hit an effort over, some 20 yards out from Jamie Kelly’s goal. Early on in the second half the Greenways number 15 hit an effort on the Clapton Community goal, from distance, which was held by goalkeeper Jack Francis.

The number 15 for Greenways would, a couple of minutes after his first effort of the game, hit a low powerful from distance wide of Jack Francis’ goal, from the left side of the pitch. Clapton Community would once again go close to taking the lead in the match, as Joel Akuwudike hit the crossbar with an effort from the right-hand side of the Greenways penalty area, before Ross Broadway saw his header on the follow-up, go over the goal. In the 63rd minute of the game Clapton Community took the lead. Joel Akuwudike’s low pass from the right flank to Cameron Gordon (inside of the penalty area), resulted in the centre-forward quickly giving the ball to substitute Fred Taylor, as he finished from close range, into the goal, 1-0. 

Clapton Community substitute James Briggs, would shortly after being introduced to the match, pick out Ross Broadway in the centre of the Greenways penalty area from his good cross. However, Broadway’s headed effort went wide of the goal. A big moment in the game followed, as Greenways goalkeeper Jamie Kelly was shown a red card by the referee, after rushing out of his goal to meet onrushing Clapton Community player Cameron Gordon. He was unable to get any of the ball with his challenge, as he fouled Gordon. One of the other Greenways players on the pitch would replace Jamie Kelly in goal. James Briggs would then have a free-kick effort from the right-hand side of the pitch, saved by the goalkeeper at his near post.

Greenways player Ashley Poppy hit a low effort from the edge of the home team’s box, wide of Jack Francis’ goal, before Ross Broadway travelled inside with the ball from the right flank and then hit a decent effort over the Greenways goal. The same Clapton Community player would then (a couple of minutes later) hit a good volleyed effort over the Greenways goal, from the edge of their penalty area. The chances for the home side continued, as they looked to make sure of the win. After the ball had fallen for Fred Taylor on the edge of the Greenways box, he would hit an effort on the bounce, over the goal. Impressive Clapton Community substitute Emmanuel Olasehinde twisted and turned with good skill on the ball down the right side of the Greenways penalty area, before having an effort on goal which was parried by the goalkeeper.

Following a James Briggs free-kick into the Greenways box, the ball came to Tami Unuefa, whose effort went wide of the goal. Very late on in the game Greenways came close on two occasions to scoring an equalising goal. Greenways’ number 12’s looping effort from the edge of the penalty area hit the top of the crossbar. And then, a couple of moments later, Greenways were awarded a very late free-kick on the edge of the Clapton Community penalty area. Taken by Ashley Poppy, his deflected effort off the wall was pushed really well onto his left-hand post by goalkeeper Jack Francis, who then somehow managed to gather the ball on the goal-line. This was a deserved win to start the season for Clapton Community, who did really well on the day.

For Greenways, I thought that their player of the match was their central defender Lewis Cook, who I thought was impressive during the match. However, Clapton Community central defender Sam Cook, was in my opinion the player of the match, for what was a very assured defensive display from him. Sam Cook read the game well and he looked very solid defensively. Also, to mention just some of the other impressive performances for the home side, I thought that Jack Francis, Joel Akuwudike, Junia Charlton and Ross Broadway also impressed during the match. This was a good team performance from Clapton Community.