Clapton 2 Barkingside 0

Essex Senior League - Len Cordell Memorial Cup Group B, Friday April 23

I was over at Frenford’s Jack Carter Centre on Friday evening to watch an Essex Senior League Len Cordell Memorial Cup Group B clash between Clapton and Barkingside, and it saw second half goals from Melos Ajuazi and Bayemore Ndiaye help The Tons to all three points and secure their Last 16 spot.

This weekend was the final round of Group games across the five Groups before the main knockout stages begin next weekend, so the teams had one more game to improve or even get into the last 16, and for Clapton and Barkingside they knew a draw would actually be enough for both of them to achieve this.

They could also both still win the group on goal difference with a win and then see Redbridge lose at Woodford Town tomorrow, defeat and a big win for Woodford in that game tomorrow would see the side who lost here at The Drive finish bottom of the group on goal difference but in what a good chance of still making the Last 16 as best fourth placed side, although that depended on results elsewhere in the other groups tomorrow.

The best policy therefore was to go out and win the game and at worst draw it, and although both sides knew a point would be enough, they could both still win the group if Redbridge slipped up as said above so why not go for that? Both sides had won one and lost one in their group, with both sides wins coming against pointless Woodford, and both had lost to Redbridge by the odd goal too.

So, very similar in terms of results so far, but how would this one turn out? Well, Clapton certainly had the better of the chances in the opening forty-five minutes, with the best of them falling to Lewis Francis and Petrit Elbi who saw a brilliant double save from Duncan Smith thwart them, but it was Side who should have grabbed the lead early in the second period when Archie Hammond got in on goal, but Carlos Simeon made an important save.

And moments after this Clapton edged ahead after 56 minutes when Hussain Jaffa saw a thumping header touched onto the bar, another header was then blocked, before Ajuazi managed to turn the ball home from close range and see the deadlock broken in this contest.

And five minutes later Clapton doubled their advantage when after Francis had broken through but was thwarted by Smith once again, Ndiaye fired the loose ball beyond Smith into the top corner brilliantly and now Side had work to do to get back into this contest.

They did rally towards the end of the contest and struck the bar late on, but it was too little to late for Barkingside who fall to a second successive defeat in the group stages and will now wait on results tomorrow to see if they do make the last 16 or whether they make the plate semi instead, whilst The Tons net a second successive 2-0 win and seal their place in the main knock out draw.

Full time Clapton 2 Barkingside 0

 

 

This is how the Group B table looks heading into the weekend…

Clapton will win the group if Redbridge lose, any other result sees Redbridge win the group, whilst a Woodford win by two goals would see them leapfrog Barkingside into third spot and would leave the Cricklefield outfit sweating to see if they are the best fourth placed side to go into the Last 16. Side will finish third though if Woodford fail to win and see the Ashton’s side most likely in the plate semi.

 

Let’s now look ahead to Saturday’s games as the Group Stages come to a close…

Group A

Cockfosters v Hoddesdon Town

DTFC v St Margaretsbury

DTFC win the group with a win, Fosters, Hoddesdon and St Mags all still have a chance of finishing in the top three, you would think Hoddesdon would need to win at Cockfosters to have any chance of making the Last 16, draws for the other two would be enough.

 

Group C

Billericay Town U23s v Stansted

Holland v FC Clacton

Billericay and FC Clacton are already through so are looking to end the Group Stage on a high and try and end top of the pile, they could both be trumped by Holland if they both lose and Holland win, Stansted need to win to have any chance and hope Holland lose at home to local rivals FC Clacton and that could also come down to goal difference and goals scored to see who ends up third if that were to happen. And fourth place would then have a chance of going through best fourth placed side, so lots can still happen.

 

Group D

Barking 2 West Essex 1 (Friday)

Frenford v Hackney Wick

Barking are through as group winners after their come from behind win over West Essex on Friday evening, West are through as runners up, which leaves Frenford just needing a draw to finish third, but a win for Hackney Wick would send them through and leave Frenford most likely facing a plate semi instead.

 

Group E

Athletic Newham v Great Wakering Rovers

Brimsdown v White Ensign

Ensign have already won the group so their final game is just a run out to get themselves ready for the knock out rounds, there is just a point between the other three so all can still go through, Great Wakering must win to make the last 16 as their inferior goal difference on the other two above them means a draw would not be enough, unless Brimsdown are beaten by four goals or more, so who knows!!!