Friday night football was upon us again in the Essex Senior League as Barkingside and Clapton locked horns at Cricklefield Stadium.
And a bumper gate of 323 made their way in to see this local derby with at least 200 of those Clapton Ultras who were packed into the covered terrace behind the dugouts. They were as vocal as ever.
The hosts had come into this one off the back of a thrashing at Dulwich Hamlet in midweek although they had only lost two of their last eleven so were in solid form.
The Tons had only played one game in the whole of February but were looking to go back into second spot and try and keep leaders Barking honest.
Side saw David Laird blast over an early chance before the visitors responded with a chance of their own but Jay Knight saw his effort saved by Tyler McCarthys legs as both teams tried to gain an early advantage.
On 13 minutes a snap shot from Jason Ajoodha went a foot wide of the Clapton goal before moments later Raphael Duyile had a chance for the visitors but again this was wasted.
Side almost took the lead in the 21st minute when they had a double chance, firstly when Laird found himself as sight of goal but saw his effort saved then moments later Luke With saw his header well saved by Emmanuel Olayide in the Tons goal.
With went close with another header minutes later which was blocked on the line and just past the half hour mark Clapton almost took the lead as Knight saw a glancing header headed off the line by a defender.
But then seven minutes before the half time break the deadlock was broken, and it was broken by the hosts, as a header back into the six yard box saw Laird flick home a close range header and give his side the advantage.
It was an advantage that only lasted for five minutes though as the Tons hit back two minutes before the break as Knight was played in and he knocked the ball past keeper McCarthy and sent the Ultras into raptures. It also meant a decent half of football finished level.
Half Time Barkingside 1 Clapton 1
The early exchanges in the second period saw Clapton send a couple of efforts off target whilst Side saw a good effort blocked inside the Tons area, but in the 57th minute the visitors took the lead when sloppy play from the hosts allowed Knight to be played in and he made no mistake to net his second of the contest and give Clapton the upper hand.
Side though showed great character to bounce back five minutes later as in the 62nd minute a ball laid back to George Ademilyu saw the Side number eleven strike a first time shot beyond Olayide and into the far corner and we were level once again.
The game was finely poised with both sides looking to get their noses in front. As the game headed towards the last fifteen minutes the hosts looked threatening from crosses into box although the Tons were dealing with the threat whilst down the other end Johnny Ashman almost got on the end of a ball across goal but saw it whipped away from him in the nick of time as Clapton threatened a third too.
But then in the 77th minute came a decision which gave the hosts the upper hand as Ademilyu was adjudged to gave been hauled down inside the area and With converted the penalty emphatically and Side led again.
The Tons threatened a leveller almost immediately as Knight found himself in behind but saw his effort saved by McCarthy but then moments later with ten minutes left came a fourth for the hosts thanks to a wonder chip from Laird giving the hosts a two goal cushion.
And with almost the last kick of the contest Side added gloss to the scoreline by making it five in the fourth minute of stoppage time when Kai Heather belted home a brilliant effort from twenty yards out and cap a wonderful Friday night for the hosts.
The win takes Barkingside back into the top half in 11th place whilst defeat for Clapton leaves them in third place, still eight points behind the leaders having played two games more. Not a good night for the Tons who could drop to fourth tomorrow if FC Romania win.
Full Time Barkingside 5 Clapton 2
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