Hashtag United 3 Clapton 0

Essex Senior League, Monday 19th October 2020 

Monday night saw me back over at The Len Salmon Stadium as Hashtag United hosted Clapton in another Essex Senior League contest, and it saw a brace from Joe Gregory help The Tags to the points in a tough battle against The Tons to go five clear at the top.

These two sides could not have started the season anymore differently, The Tags of course sat top of the pile by two points following their hard fought victory at Cockfosters at the weekend, making it seven wins from their eight so far, whilst for The Tons it was no wins in eight league games so far as they sat second bottom.

The Tons though had a new manager in the shape of former May & Baker and Redbridge boss Micky Wetherall, and the arrival of some new personal in his squad should perhaps see them get that first league win soon, although his first game as manager against his former employees The Motormen at the weekend didn’t go to plan despite taking the lead on the hour mark.

The hosts knew this would not be an easy game despite the league table showing that the league leaders should net a routine win over their 17^th placed opponents, but I got the feeling prior to the contest that this could be a close one, just like The Tags last home league contest against bottom side Woodford Town.  No team should ever be underestimated in this division.

After the hosts almost took the lead from kick off when a cross to the near post was almost turned in by a defender, The Tons sent an ambitious effort onto the roof of the net although whether it was an overhit cross who knows, whilst back down the other end a quickly taken free kick saw Josh Osude fire across goal but George Smith just failed to convert.

Both teams continued to trade attacks in what was an end to end affair at times, and then just past the half hour mark Clapton so nearly took the lead when they got in down the right but Tim Pitman pulled off an important stop to keep the scoreline at 0-0, but it was a warning to The Tags that the visitors meant business here.

Clapton keeper Qamil Dervishaj then had to be alert to beat away a fierce free kick from Kris Newby as a tight first period ended goalless, and if the hosts didn’t already know that they were in a game here then they did by half time that was for sure.  This one was still well up for grabs and no doubt Wetherall would have been pleased with his troop’s efforts so far against the title favourites.

Half Time Hashtag United 0 Clapton 0

No doubt Jay Deveraux would have had some stern words to say to his side at the break and they came out looking to try and grab an early second half goal to settle the nerves, and five minutes into the period they did just that, after The Tons gave the ball away cheaply, Osude got down the right and squared across the box to Gregory who swept home a first time finish into the bottom corner.

The manner of the goal would of annoyed Clapton, they had worked so hard in this contest and a lapse in concentration had cost them, so how would they respond to such an early set back in the second half?

Well, quite well actually and twenty or so minutes into the second period they were adamant they should have had a penalty after a foul inside the box, but the referee waved away their protests, quite fierce ones at that, and this didn’t go down well with The Tons who were fuming.  The Tags defender in question was also fuming. Claiming the Clapton attacker had made a meal of it so to speak, eyeballing the player in question, but it was most certainly a big talking point and The Tons felt they were not getting the decisions, just like their game against Redbridge at the weekend.

You don’t get the big decisions go your way when your down the bottom many people say, and with Clapton still miffed at this non penalty award they soon found themselves two goals down as midway through the half Sam Byles sent a ball into the box for Gregory to control the ball, turn, and fire home for his second of the evening.

This compounded the visitors dissatisfaction at not getting that penalty, and they were still arguing with the referee after the second goal, but they were just going to have to try and get it out of their system and try and somehow get back into this contest, although that would be hard against a good side like Hashtag with a two goal cushion.

With fifteen minutes remaining Tags reserve team boss Kiernan Hughes-Mason came on for the hosts, replacing George Smith, and he almost got on the end of a driven effort across goal by Osude with nine minutes of the contest remaining, but, he was to have his moment a minute from time when the reserve boss curled a beauty into the bottom corner after good work from Jesse Waller Lassen, and it capped a rather useful night for the home side.

For the hosts it was job done, three points and a five point lead at the summit of the ESL now, whilst for The Tons, 3-0 was probably a bit harsh on them as they had certainly more than played their part in this one, but it’s a fifth loss in eight league outings now, and still no wins, but surely their first win is just around the corner as Wetherall has got them playing some nice football.

Full Time Hashtag United 3 Clapton 0