Clapton 1-1 Waltham Forest
The points were shared at the Old Spotted Dog Ground in a close fought derby that ended 1 – 1. A goal from Callum Holder gave the Stags a first half lead but a Clapton penalty, scored by Warren Mfula in the second half, levelled the scores.
A far from tidy pitch meant the game was never going to be the prettiest of battles between the two East London rivals. The poor surface made it difficult for either team to settle into any real passing rhythm during the opening stages forcing a directness in their play. Nonetheless, chances to score were created at both ends.
Clapton are no strangers to the pace that their neighbours possess going forward, but, with the condition of the pitch, this had less significance than when the sides met in October. Jose Agua, who scored a hat-trick in that match was missing from Forest’s squad along with four other players, including captain Jon Jon Sexton. However, prolific striker Solomon Ofori did play and despite being marked tightly throughout, he was able to ask some questions of the Clapton defence.
Forest went close after 13 minutes when Callum Holder followed up Ofori’s blocked effort with a first-time shot only to be denied by the crossbar.
In spite of the poor pitch, Ofori was determined in his efforts to stretch the Clapton defence by running in behind them and his persistence triggered the goal which came after 28 minutes. Clapton appeared to have the situation dealt with when a ball through to Ofori was intercepted however, a slip from the defender lead to a free opportunity at goal from 18 yards. Again, it was Holder who was quickest to react and he made no mistake as he drove his shot low into the bottom corner of the Clapton goal.
After going a goal down, the run of play swayed in the home side’s favour and they put Forest under pressure for large periods of the remaining first half. Clapton almost equalised, just 6 minutes after conceding, when Warren Mfula’s volleyed effort, on the half turn, sailed over the bar following a corner.
Shortly after, the ‘tons’ did in fact find the back of the net through Jerome Martelli, however the goal was ruled out by the linesman for offside.
After the break, Clapton kept up their pressure as they penned Forest deep into their own half. The main difference to the first half was that Clapton began to find the target with their efforts at goal, forcing some marvellous saves from Forest goalkeeper William Hunt.
Andy Mott’s shot from 25 yards, in the opening minute, was saved acrobatically by Hunt.
Midway through the second half, Forest could have easily been two or three goals down had it not been for the fine performance of their goalkeeper who refused to be beaten.
After 30 minutes of the second half, Clapton finally got their breakthrough. A long ball was fired into the box to striker and target man Shomari Barnwell. Forest defender James Ogunleye climbed well to head away but failed to clear the danger with his clearance, sending the ball straight up into the air. The centre half again challenged for the ball but was penalised for climbing on the Clapton striker in his attempt to get to the ball and a penalty was awarded to the home side. This time, there was nothing Hunt could do to deny Warren Mfula’s well executed shot from the spot.
Clapton’s best opportunity to go in front came in the 90th minute when Barnwell broke free of the Forest defence however, he failed to hit the target despite being one-on-one with the goalkeeper.
“Conditions were bad and it definitely affected the way would play. We struggled slightly without our captain but he should be back for the next game. We were actually missing 5 of our first choice 11 players. We were a bit lucky to come away with a point but you could also argue we might have easily taken all three points had it not been for the penalty. William, our goalkeeper, dealt with everything well in open play after all”, said Forest Manager Turgut Esendagli after the game.
Report by Jack Ball.
