Non-League and Academy football writer

In what promised to be a really interesting game of football between two very good footballing sides, Clapton Community welcomed Lymore Gardens to the Old Spotted Dog Ground on Tuesday evening, for a Thurlow Nunn League First Division South fixture. Clapton Community started this league match in fifth place in the league table after six matches played. Lymore Gardens started this game in second place in the league standings, after six matches played. This step 6 match was won  3-0 by Clapton Community, who were deserved winners on the night.

Early on in this contest and a corner-kick delivery in to the home team’s penalty area from Lymore player Malik Donaldson, would find Dylan Roberts at Jack Francis’ back post. In space, Roberts’ headed effort would go narrowly wide of the goal. Clapton Community would soon start to control the game, with the ball. They were seeing a lot of the ball during the early stages of this game. A good Clapton Community move would result in a low cross being delivered from the right-hand side of the pitch and in to the centre of the Lymore penalty area. Fred Taylor’s clever resulting flicked effort on goal was really well pushed away by Lymore’s goalkeeper Sidhant Nayar, who made an excellent reflex save. 

Shortly after James Briggs’ corner-kick delivery in to the Lymore box had found Sam Cook, with his resulting headed effort being gathered by Sidhant Nayar, the Lymore goalkeeper would make another good save. This time the impressive Tami Unuefa’s effort on goal from the right-hand side of the Lymore penalty area, was well saved by Sidhant Nayar, before Fred Taylor had hit an effort in to the side-netting of his goal. Clapton Community forward Andre Odeku would then get to a through-ball pass in behind of the Lymore defence, and on the edge of their box. His lofted effort was held by the Lymore goalkeeper, however.

Lymore Gardens were looking to be more creative with the ball. And after Dylan Roberts had got to a long throw-in on the left-hand side of the home team’s box, he would hit a powerful effort right across Jack Francis’ goal. Then, soon after that chance for Lymore Gardens, Clapton Community would deservedly take the lead in this game. Joel Akuwudike would receive the ball, before skilfully taking it around a defender on the byline and on the left-hand side of the Lymore box. He would then play the ball across to Fred Taylor, who was also in the box. And Taylor would finish well, with his curling effort going in to the right-hand side of the goal, 1-0. 

Lymore’s Alex Coster would, around ten minutes after the opening goal of the game, create a fine goalscoring chance. His short through-ball pass would find the run of Dylan Roberts down the left-hand side of the Clapton Community box. Through on goal, Roberts’ powerful effort was destined for the goal, but for a superb fingertip save from Jack Francis, to somehow tip the ball on to his crossbar. That would prove to be a crucial save in the context of this game. After the highly influential Fred Taylor’s fine dipping effort from over 25 yards out from the Lymore goal, had almost caught out their goalkeeper, with his effort hitting the crossbar, Clapton Community would double their advantage just before half-time. A penalty was awarded to the home team following a foul on Jacob Wintour down the right-hand side of the Lymore box. Up stepped James Briggs, who in expert fashion, would power an effort in to the left-hand side of the goal, 2-0.

Clapton Community would start the second half of this match well. After Fred Taylor had drifted inside with the ball from the left flank, he would hit a powerful effort on the Lymore goal from distance, which was gathered by Sidhant Nayar. Taylor, who was again involved in play soon after, would this time receive a superb pass across the floor from James Briggs, out to the left flank. Taylor would then hit a powerful effort over the Lymore goal from some 30 yards out. Clapton Community continued to play well, but they were also managing the game and their two goal lead very effectively. As the game progressed, the home team simply weren’t allowing Lymore to play their football. After Clapton Community substitute Enzo Pina had delivered a fine free-kick (from the right-hand side of the pitch) in to the Lymore box, Adam Sidky would then head the ball wide of the goal.

Following a through-ball pass from the home side during the latter stages of the game, Lymore defender and substitute Pa Jagne, would recover well to block an effort from Taylor (from inside of the Lymore box), who then had an effort which was blocked by Makism Todoschuk. Just before the end of the game and deep in to second half stoppage time, Clapton Community would add a third goal. Fred Taylor would run on to Enzo Pina’s nicely weighted through-ball pass, in behind of the Lymore defence and inside of their penalty area. Through on goal and Taylor would finish well and powerfully in to the roof of the goal, 3-0. 

This was a hugely deserved win for Clapton Community against very good opposition in newly promoted side Lymore Gardens, who I’m sure will respond positively to successive defeats in the league. Clapton Community played their passing game to great effect, really dominating the game and the ball, in my opinion. The home side played very well as a team, both going forward with the ball and in defence, with midfield orchestrators such as James Briggs, more than playing their part in this win. For Lymore Gardens I thought that their goalkeeper Sidhant Nayar, was their player of the match. Also, substitute Ryo Brown made a good and positive impression in midfield, during the second half.

For my overall player of the match award, and there really was a lot of contenders on Tuesday. Fred Taylor was excellent once again (he scored two well taken goals), Sam Cook, Adam Sidky, Jacob Wintour (he played ever so well, and his skill on the ball and direct runs were so important), and Nathan Cook, were all contenders. However, my player of the match was Tami Unuefa, who defensively down the right-hand side of the pitch, defended really well. But, he also got forward well, providing really good balance to his game.