Non-League and Academy football writer

Clapton Community faced SC Thamesmead on Tuesday night at the Old Spotted Dog ground, in a second round tie of the SCEFL Division One Cup. In Division One of the SCEFL League, only goal difference currently separates ninth place Clapton Community with eighth place SC Thamesmead, in the league table. However, this was a cup game, which Clapton Community did very well in as a team, as they won the match 4-0. Clapton Community would create the first two goalscoring chances of this game, on a very cold night in east London. Firstly, and after Fred Taylor had received a short pass down the right-hand side of the SC Thamesmead penalty area, Taylor would go for goal. However, his powerful effort towards the goalkeeper’s near post was well blocked by the alert Joaldo Cravid. A couple of minutes later, Fred Taylor would get to the ball on the edge of the visitor’s penalty area, but his low effort was gathered by the goalkeeper, Daniel Carpanini.

At the opposite end of the pitch, SC Thamesmead’s first effort of the game came from Jack Ernest Church, whose low effort on goal (from distance) was comfortably gathered by Clapton Community goalkeeper Jack Francis. The game started to liven up further, with chances becoming more plentiful. And after Fred Taylor had met a nice lofted pass down the right-hand side of the SC Thamesmead penalty area, he would lay the ball off for Junia Charlton in the centre of the box, but his powerful resulting effort on goal was really well tipped over by Daniel Carpanini, to keep the scores all level. SC Thamesmead would respond well to the home side creating that fine chance. SC Thamesmead centre-forward Steve Karkari’s clever pass in behind the Clapton Community defence, would find the run of Joseph Ikuesan, down the left-hand side of the home side’s penalty area. However, under pressure and off balance, Joseph Ikuesan would hit an effort narrowly wide of Jack Francis’ right-hand post.

In the 36th minute of the game, Clapton Community would take the lead in the match. Joel Akuwudike took a short free-kick (on the right flank) to Junia Charlton, who then delivered a good ball into the centre of the SC Thamesmead penalty area. There was a bit of a scramble inside of the penalty area, with Julian Austin managing to get to the ball inside of the box, and he would finish first time with a side-footed effort into the goal, 1-0. Not long before half-time SC Thamesmead were awarded a free-kick some 25 yards out from Jack Francis’ goal. However, Ryan Penton’s whipped free-kick effort cannoned off the crossbar, before then being cleared away. Joel Akuwudike’s very late and well delivered corner-kick delivery into the away team’s box, almost resulted in Clapton Community scoring their second goal of the match, but for some fine goalkeeping from Daniel Carpanini, to tip the ball over his goal. 

The second half of this match would start at a good pace. Early chances/efforts towards goal during the second half saw Fred Taylor hit a powerful effort wide of the away team’s goal from distance, before Jack Francis confidently gathered Michael Paton’s effort, on the bounce and from distance, at the opposite end of the pitch. Clapton Community were really trying to get an important second goal of the game. A fine through-ball pass from Noah Salama, would find the run of Lewis Owiredu in behind the SC Thamesmead defence. Lewis Owiredu would continue forward with the ball, into the penalty area, but his effort on goal was well saved by the outrushing Daniel Carpanini. A hugely important and decisive sliding challenge from Junia Charlton, at the opposite end of the pitch and inside of the Clapton Community box would follow, to stop an almost certain equalising goal for the visitors. Jack Francis would then gather Jack Ernest Church’s powerful effort on his goal (from 20 yards out), soon after.

Clapton Community substitute Cameron Gordon was already making a really positive impression on this game, as the home side went in search of another goal. After starting a really good free flowing move, Gordon would come so close to finishing off the chance, after turning so well with the ball inside of the SC Thamesmead penalty area. His resulting powerful low effort went narrowly wide of the goalkeeper’s right-hand post, however. And that deserved next goal of the game for the home side would arrive soon after, on 72 minutes. A long throw-in (from the right flank) into the SC Thamesmead penalty area, saw the ball be flicked on by Julian Austin, to Fred Taylor in the centre of the box. And Taylor would connect really well with the ball, as he volleyed it into the goal, 2-0.

Less than a minute after Clapton Community had made it 2-0, they would stun SC Thamesmead, by making it 3-0. After Clapton Community had won possession of the ball in the final third, impressive substitute Arthur Wright would play a good through-ball pass into Cameron Gordon, on the right-hand side of the SC Thamesmead box, from where the talented forward expertly finished, courtesy of a powerful low finish into the goal, 3-0. Soon after the game had started again, Bailey Pryce’s low cross from the left flank, into the away team’s box, was flicked just wide of their goal by Cameron Gordon. A couple of minutes later Noah Salama hit a low effort from the edge of the penalty area, on Daniel Carpanini’s goal, with the goalkeeper gathering the ball, not long at all before Clapton Community made it 4-0.

Clapton Community’s fourth and final goal of the match, was yet another well worked goal. Cameron Gordon would receive the ball to his feet, before turning on it and playing a nice forward pass to Arthur Wright, who went forward at pace wirh the ball, in behind the defence and down the right-hand side of the penalty area. Wright would then finish low and powerfully into the goal, at the goalkeeper’s near post. In the final moments of the game, Jack Francis would make a fine stop to keep out Steve Karkari’s good, powerful effort on his goal (from 20 yards out). This was a really good team performance from Clapton Community, who thoroughly deserved to progress into the next round of this competition. Geoff Ocran’s side played some lovely football, but they also defended well, to really limit SC Thamesmead to not very many good goalscoring chances during the match.

The whole of the Clapton Community team played really well on Tuesday, from defence to the forward areas of the pitch. Bailey Pryce, Adam Sidky, and Charlie Fagan, did really well in defence. Fred Taylor was really good in the forward areas of the pitch, and the excellent Cameron Gordon and Arthur Wright more than played their part during the second half of this cup-tie, with Julian Austin and Noah Salama, just some of the other contenders for my player of the match award. However, Junia Charlton (he was involved in Clapton Community’s first goal of the game) was outstanding at right-back, showing great balance to his game, and really performing well throughout his time on the pitch, and he was my player of the match.