Non-League and Academy football writer

On Friday evening at Frenford Clubs, Frenford FC faced fellow Essex Senior League side Clapton Community, in a pre-season friendly. Ending in a goalless draw, it was quite an uneventful first half of football, with both teams defending well. Clapton Community defender Junia Charlton, was arguably Clapton’s player of the match so far, putting in a really good performance during the first half. After the second half had started, Clapton Community player Julian Austin would hit a powerful effort narrowly over the Frenford goalkeeper’s crossbar, from distance.

A credit to both team’s well organised defences, both teams weren’t really able to test the respective goalkeepers. However, late on in this friendly match, and following a Frenford corner-kick, Clapton player Andre Odeku would get to a lofted forward pass inside of Frenford’s final third of the pitch. After cutting inside with the ball (inside of the Frenford box) onto his right foot, Andre Odeku would see his powerful low resulting effort be well pushed behind by the Frenford goalkeeper. And soon after, Andre Odeku would head an effort narrowly wide, after meeting a corner-kick delivery at the back post of the Frenford goal.

This was quite a close game of football, in which both sides improved in during the second half, in my opinion. For Frenford, on one of his first appearances for the club, recent signing Hocine Krouchi impressed in central-defence, and I personally thought that he was the player of the match. Skilful on the ball and assured in defence, his experience in the game and his quality, really showed. A helpful pre-season workout for both sides, I’m looking forward to seeing both Frenford and Clapton Community on occasions, during the 2026/27 season.