Non-League and Academy football writer

Clapton Community faced Meridian VP, at the Old Spotted Dog Ground, on Wednesday night, in a semi-final tie of the 2024/25 season’s SCEFL Division One Cup. Geoff Ocran’s Clapton Community side are currently in eight place in the SCEFL Division One league standings, after 27 league matches played. The visiting side to the Old Spotted Dog Ground, on Wednesday (Meridian VP), are currently in 18th place in the SCEFL Division One table, after 26 matches played. This was a very big cup game, for both sides, and it was Clapton Community who won this match 2-1, but it was a very hard fought win for the home side. Clapton Community would start this game well, and at a good intensity. In fact it took the home side eight minutes, before they took they took the lead in this cup tie. A clever lofted ball from Joel Akuwudike, in behind the visitor’s defence, would find the run of Fred Taylor, down the left-hand side of the Meridian penalty area. Taylor would then lift the ball over the outrushing goalkeeper, Thomas King, and into the goal, 1-0.

Soon after taking the lead, Clapton Community player Ross Broadway would hit an effort over the Meridian goal, from over 20 yards out, before the away side created their first chance of the game. As following Zachary Jacubowski’s run to meet a lofted forward pass, the Meridian VP centre-forward would control the ball just inside of the home team’s penalty area, before Jack Francis managed to keep out his low effort on goal, with a Clapton defender on hand to clear the loose ball away. A couple of minutes later, Ty Ledwith was able to reach a fine pass out to the left flank, before he then passed the ball to Zachary Jacubowski, whose effort from the left-hand side of the Clapton Community box, was gathered by Francis. Around five minutes later, Julian Austin’s effort on the bounce and from distance, was gathered by Meridian VP goalkeeper, Thomas King. And then, a fine James Briggs pass would find Joel Akuwudike, out on the left flank. He would then take the ball into the Meridian box, before hitting a powerful effort across the face of Thomas King’s goal.

Clapton Community midfielder James Briggs, was making some really good forward passes, during the first half. However, his outstanding long, lofted pass to find the run of Fred Taylor down the middle of the pitch, and inside of the Meridian box, was the pass of the game. Taylor would show some good skill with the ball, before hitting an effort just wide of the goalkeeper’s right-hand post. And just before half-time, Meridian player Carl Anderson would glance a header across Jack Francis’ goal, following a corner-kick delivery into the home team’s penalty area. Clapton Community were looking to double their lead during the early stages of the second half, but Meridian VP were playing well, improving in their all-round play during the second half. Not too long after Ryan Atkinson’s powerful low effort on the Clapton Community goal, from distance, was well pushed around his left-hand post by Francis, the away side would draw level, in the 67th minute of the game. The impressive Zachary Jacubowski would get to a good threaded forward pass, and from the left-hand side of the home side’s penalty area, he would take the ball past the outrushing goalkeeper, before finishing low into the goal, 1-1.

Clapton Community tried to respond, but Meridian had been defending their goal really well. Then, in the 75th minute of the game, a moment of brilliance from James Briggs, would see Clapton Community retake the lead. After the home side had been awarded a free-kick out on the left-hand side of the pitch, but quite close to the edge of the Meridian box, Briggs would elect to take it. His resulting whipped effort over the wall had real pace on the ball, as well as the accuracy to find the top left-hand corner of the goal, despite the best efforts of Thomas King, 2-1. Meridian VP would really push for a late leveller, during the final 15 minutes of the game. And, of the two goal attempts that they managed during the final minutes of the game, Zachary Jacubowski came the closest, with his powerful effort from the edge of the Clapton Community box, whistling just wide of Jack Francis’ left-hand post.

This was a good cup tie, and real credit must go to Meridian VP, for really pushing the home side all the way. Clapton Community played some good football, but they came up against a good Meridian defence on the day, who made this a difficult game for the east London club. Ultimately, however, the game was won by a moment of brilliance, by James Briggs. For Meridian VP, I thought that their centre-forward and goalscorer Zachary Jacubowski, was their player of the match. His movement and hard work off the ball, was very impressive. For my overall player of the match award, and despite Fred Taylor, Tami Unuefa, and Zachary Jacubowski being some of the other contenders, my player of the match award goes to James Briggs. The Clapton Community midfielder used the ball really well, playing some really fine forward passes, but he also showed good game management, as well as scoring a superb match winning goal.