Match Report: Clapton CFC 4-3 Dunstable Town

Photo: Hadley Gleeson scoring the first Town goal.

Written by James Smith

Photos by James Smith

A depleted Dunstable Town lost by the odd goal in seven when they played Clapton CFC in the FSA Supporters Shield pre-season friendly in East London.

Missing many players through injury and unavailability, Town gave minutes to a new signing, trialists and youth team player Owen Russell who had only turned 16 years old recently.

In an end to end, entertaining game, Montel Brown had the first chance of the match, shooting narrowly wide in the 2nd minute.

Nine minutes later the hosts saw a fine curling effort just go past the far post.

Clapton opened the scoring in the 19th minute when a looping header from a free kick found the net.

Dunstable responded immediately as Hadley Gleeson finished calmly a minute later to draw his team level.

Photo: Hadley is congratulated on his equalising goal.

A mistake at the back nearly led to Clapton regaining the lead but a fine last ditch tackle saw the ball deflect on to the bar and over for a corner.

Brown then shot into the side netting on the half hour mark before having another shot blocked soon after.

He was in the thick of the action again when he superbly took down the ball right on half time but his cross evaded a team mate in the box.

Brown continued where he left off in first half when he slotted a fine pass to Gleeson who took the ball round the keeper and finished with ease to give Town the lead.

Photo: Hadley adds his second.

The Blues were on top, threatening down the right through Alfie Young and then had a shot saved with an hour gone.

Clapton drew level in the 67th minute when a superb cross-field ball found their striker on edge of the area who went on to finish well from close range.

At this point Dunstable made several changes to give minutes to players and rest some tired legs, which unfortunately worked in the hosts favour.

They had the ball in net on 70 minutes but it was ruled out for offside but two minutes later they took the lead again when a fine strike was well saved but the follow up was struck home off the far post.

Russell came on to make his first senior appearance for the club with fifteen minutes left and didn’t look out of place, causing difficulties for the Clapton right back and getting crosses in to the box.

The game was made virtually safe for the home side when a corner was head home with nine minutes left.

Town kept going and forced a penalty in the last minute when Russell’s cross found a team mate who was tripped as he went to attack the ball. Russell stepped up with confidence and placed his effort into the net.

Photo: Owen scores the penalty.

There were many positives to take from the game with many youngsters from the goalkeeper through to the attacking players dong well.

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