Non-League and Academy football writer

In one of the biggest games in both club’s history, Clapton Community faced Rayleigh Town in the Thurlow Nunn League First Division South play-off final, on Saturday afternoon at the Old Spotted Dog Ground, following on from last Saturday’s semi-final ties. Clapton Community finished the regular league season in second place in the league table, with Rayleigh Town finishing the regular season in fourth place in the league. What promised to be a really interesting play-off final in front of a very impressive crowd, was won 4-2 in extra time, by Clapton Community. 

In similar fashion to their start to their play-off semi-final tie against Lymore Gardens, Clapton would start this game really well. An early goal for the home side would arrive after David Makisi had shown some good skill in midfield, before playing a low pass forward to Fred Taylor down the right-hand side of the Rayleigh penalty area. Having worked the ball onto his left foot under pressure, Taylor would curl an excellent effort across to the top left-hand corner of the goal, 1-0.

Clapton would use that momentum from scoring an early goal, well. And Geoff Ocran’s side would soon double their lead. James Briggs’ accurate whipped free-kick delivery into the middle of the Rayleigh box, from out on the left flank, was well anticipated by Julian Austin, whose powerful side-footed volley would go beyond Josh Hudson and into the goal, 2-0. Rob Hodgson’s Rayleigh Town side did work their way back into the game well, following a difficult start to the match. And the team from Essex would manage to get a goal back from the penalty spot, after James Briggs had handled Ishmeal Fiadzomor’s effort on goal inside the Clapton box. Dylan Jones’ emphatic finish from the penalty spot would find the bottom right-hand corner of the goal, 2-1.

Having really started to play well and use the ball effectively during the remainder of the first half, during the opening stages of the second half, Rayleigh would carry on being the better team in this play-off final. After Mofi Tunde-Ojolowo had brought the ball down for Joe Olley inside of the Clapton box, the Rayleigh midfielder’s low effort would go narrowly wide of their goal. But, soon after Damian Siemienczuk’s powerful headed effort on goal (following a corner-kick) was well headed off the Clapton goal-line by a defender, Rayleigh would then have a player sent off. With Rob West being shown a straight red card, much to his disbelief, by the referee and following a sliding challenge on Nathan Cook.

With it all to do in order to win this game, Rayleigh Town would defy the odds in regulation time, going on to draw level soon after having a player sent off. With Rayleigh substitute Louis Watkins bringing down and controlling the ball inside the centre of the Clapton box, before Dylan Jones would power a low effort into the goal, 2-2. Clapton Community did try their best to retake the lead before the end of the 90 minutes. Next, Fred Taylor’s forward pass would find the run of Clapton substitute Cameron Gordon in behind the Rayleigh defence, and down the right-hand side of the penalty area. However, Gordon’s resulting low effort on goal from close range, was excellently turned behind and saved with his feet, by Josh Hudson.

Rayleigh Town were continuing to defend really well, but unfortunately for the away side, they would have to go into extra time with a team of nine players. After one of their players had picked up an injury and was subsequently unable to continue, with Rayleigh having already made all of their substitutions. Going into extra time and with nine players on the pitch including Dylan Jones, who had also picked up an injury, Rayleigh would continue to defend admirably. However, before half-time in extra time, Clapton would manage to retake the lead, by scoring a crucial goal. Fred Taylor’s clever skill, under pressure, with the ball out on the left flank, would see him cross the ball expertly to Cameron Gordon inside the Rayleigh penalty area, who would head the ball into the goal at the back post, 3-2.

With nine players out on the pitch it was always going to be an incredibly difficult ask for Rayleigh Town to get back into the game. And in the second half of extra time, the home side would effectively seal the win and their promotion to step 5, by making it 4-2. Cameron Gordon and Fred Taylor would linkup well, with the former doing well with the ball down the right-hand side of the Rayleigh box, before playing the ball across to Fred Taylor who finished high into the goal, 4-2.

Firstly, I’d just like to say that Rayleigh Town can be very proud of their efforts today. They were unfortunate to lose the play-off final and who knows how it would’ve ended had they finished the game with 11 players out on the pitch, as they were doing so well for a lot of the game. However, this was Clapton Community’s day, and after a long and excellent season for all associated with the club, it was the east London club who over the course of this season have consistently put in performances that have seen them do very well at this level. And I’m sure that they’ll do well at step 5. Many congratulations to all connected to Clapton Community on their promotion.

My Rayleigh Town player of the match on Saturday was Dylan Jones, with Fred Taylor winning my overall player of the match award, despite competition from David Makisi, and Cameron Gordon.