Non-League and Academy football writer

This Thurlow Nunn League First Division South fixture between Clapton Community and FC Baresi, was the first ever meeting between the two sides, as they faced each other on Saturday afternoon in a league fixture at the Old Spotted Dog Ground. Clapton Community started this game in fifth place in the league table, after 15 league matches played. FC Baresi started this game in 12th place in the league standings, after 17 league matches played. This match would end in a 2-2 draw. 

Started at a steady pace, it was the home side, Clapton Community, who created the first goalscoring chance of this game. With Cameron Gordon hitting a first time effort over, following a square pass to the centre of the FC Baresi penalty area. Despite a cagey start to the game, it started to become a more lively game around the midway stage of the first half. After Baresi defender Marvin Smith had played a forward pass to Sertan Kirman, he would drive forwards to the edge of the Clapton Community box, before seeing his powerful effort on goal be parried away by the home side’s goalkeeper, Jack Francis.

Next, Clapton Community forward Fred Taylor had met a short pass, just in behind of the Baresi defence, he found himself one versus one with their goalkeeper Graham Loki, just inside of the box. However, Graham Loki would keep Taylor’s low effort out with his feet, doing well to make the save. Around five minutes after that chance for Clapton Community, FC Baresi would take the lead in this contest. Sertan Kirman picked the ball up around 24 yards out from goal, before playing a pass across to Kuba Vermont Ollivierre, on the left-hand side of the home team’s penalty area. One versus one with a defender, Ollivierre would hit the ball early, finding the bottom right-hand corner of Francis’ goal, via the bottom of his left-hand post, 0-1.

Soon after Sam Cook’s curling free-kick effort (from 23 yards out) had been well pushed away by Graham Loki in the Baresi goal, Tufail Amjad’s FC Baresi would double their advantage, just before half-time. Kuba Vermont Ollivierre was the provider this time, as he curled a clever lofted pass in behind of the Clapton Community defence from midfield, to the run of Sertan Kirman on the edge of the home team’s box. Sertan Kirman would then do well to lob the ball over the outrushing goalkeeper, as the ball bounced into the goal, 0-2.

Despite that two goal lead for FC Baresi, Clapton Community would start the second half at a lot better pace, compared to how they had finished the first half. Going on to get a goal back relatively early on in the second half, after the influential Julian Austin had passed the ball the short distance to Fred Taylor, on the edge of the Baresi penalty area. After Taylor had twisted and turned his way beyond the Baresi defence, inside of the box, he would then finish low into the goal, 1-2. The momentum was now with Clapton Community, who were playing their football a lot more effectively. And they would soon make it 2-2.

For Clapton Community’s second goal of the game, Lewis Owiredu would receive Julian Austin’s pass across to the left-hand side of the Baresi penalty area. Lewis Owiredu would manage to take the ball across a defender, who had slipped, before finishing cleverly into the bottom left-hand corner of Graham Loki’s goal, when it looked as if he would finish to the opposite side of the goal, 2-2. Clapton Community continued to play well during the second half. But, shortly after Fred Taylor had seen his volleyed effort (from the edge of the Baresi box, following a long throw-in) be gathered by Graham Loki, Baresi would go on to create their first and only real goalscoring chance of the second half. 

A Baresi counter with the ball would lead to Sertan Kirman doing well to win the ball in midfield, before playing a through-ball pass to Baresi substitute Kishawn James, who took the ball forward at pace down the right-hand side of the home team’s box. James would quickly square the ball for the on running Edson Lami. The Baresi captain tried to get his effort away on goal early, but the tireless Julian Austin would make a crucial block, as Edson Lami’s effort deflected wide of Jack Francis’ goal.

Clapton Community would really push for a late winning goal, with FC Baresi really having to defend their goal deeply. The closest that the home side came to getting a winner, came after Fred Taylor had controlled the ball following a cross to the edge of the Baresi box. However, Taylor’s resulting powerful effort would go wide of the goal. This was a really good contest, and a real game of two halves. Baresi would have been very disappointed to concede two goals in relatively quick succession, especially after having worked so hard to achieve a two goal lead during the first half. But then Clapton Community will also be disappointed, to have not won the game late on, after being much the better team during the second half of this game.

FC Baresi players Kuba Vermont Ollivierre (he was my FC Baresi player of the match, after scoring a fine goal before then providing a great assist) and Sertan Kirman were in my opinion FC Baresi’s best players on the day. Fred Taylor and Lewis Owiredu were also contenders for my overall player of the match award. However, it goes on this occasion to Clapton Community’s tireless midfielder Julian Austin. He was involved in the action at both ends of the pitch, and I thought that he had a very good game.