A very good, professional and solid performance from City today as they ran out victors in the CCFC derby beating Clapton Community by two goals to nil.

Both came in the first-half and although the visitors hurried and blustered in the second period, City always looked in control of the game and whenever Clapton tried to progress forward there was inevitably always a green shirt there to block, clear or tackle the ball away and to safety.
A big word for the tremendous travelling support from Clapton who sang and encouraged their team from start to finish and provided a brilliant and positive atmosphere on the day – which included some generous appreciation of City’s efforts at the end of the game as well as for their own side – your club is very lucky to have you!!
On to the match now and City went close to opening the scoring in just the second minute when a sparkling run down the right by Khavarn Williams saw his zipped in low cross inches from being stabbed home by the onrushing Sean Aromolaran. Clapton’s first effort came some minutes later when Julian Austin had his shot well blocked by Joe Nelder.
City were looking the liveliest though with Williams, Aromolaran and Mo Cham all upfront giving the visiting defence plenty to worry about. Cham brought about the first save of the day when, after raiding forward, he forced keeper Jack Francis into a smart low save at the expense of a corner. City weren’t able to prosper from that one but another shortly after turned into a game of head tennis that ended with Harry Sikirwayi getting the last go – glancing the ball over the Clapton bar.
City had the next opportunity too when a lovely lay-off from Aromolaran found Cham and he rode a couple of challenges before getting into the box, but then hammered a clear shot off the post that pinged away with some force to safety.
It wasn’t too long however before City deservedly took the lead and a brilliantly worked goal it was too. A move that started from the back and involved multiple players and multiple passes culminated with some persistent battling play in the centre from Williams before he laid the ball off to the right for Cham to run onto. It was perfectly played and weighted right into the slot for Cham and he knocked in a delicious cross to the far post where Sikirwayi rose and crashed a header home from close range for 1-0.
The rest of the half lacked a bit of fluency as there was two lengthy stoppages and a referee’s lecture to attend but it was City that remained the more likely to score. Luke Illsley bravely headed away a fierce shot from Clapton’s Fred Taylor but despite seeing some of the ball, the visitors offered little by way of goal threat and it wasn’t long before City extended their lead.
Once more, Williams and Cham were the eventual creators when, a lovely passing move, saw Cham find Williams who in-turn waved his strike partner forward to where he wanted him to go and then delivered another crisp, pin-point pass that allowed Cham to thump in a first-time cross right into the heart of the visitors’ box where Aromolaran came flying in and acrobatically diverted the ball home for 2-0.
With little of the first-half remaining, Clapton were unable to respond with any intent although a free-kick was hoisted in from halfway which City keeper Tom Benham – back after an injury absence, did very well to come through a crowd of players and safely pluck out of the air to send his team into the break two goals to the good.
At two-nil in any game the next goal can always be crucial, sealing the win or putting the leaders on the back-foot and possibly causing momentum to swing away from their favour but to be truthful, Clapton never looked likely to score it or get back into the game. They played with a bit more urgency and determination after the break but they were thwarted at every turn by a determined, robust and solid performance from the hosts.
The opening stages of the second-half were littered with City opportunities as Luka Radojevic volleyed well over from the edge of the box and at least three corners all came and went. Aromolaran then had the chance to score City’s third when he broke free from around halfway before attempting to slide the ball past the keeper but Francis stood tall to make a good blocking save.
Then in a rare sortie forward, the visitors thought they’d got a goal back but an offside flag had been raised several seconds beforehand. Another free-kick hoisted in from halfway was again well taken by Benham before Radojevic, from a City free-kick, pulled the ball down well before whipping a low, fierce shot right across the face of the Clapton goal and wide of the far post before Benham then made his first serious save of the day holding on well to a rasping thirty-yarder piled in from distance by James Briggs.
City were continuing to have the better of both the attacking play and the chances though as Jamie Obianigwe fired over the bar when well placed, Rob Lawrence found the side-netting from a free-kick and Rory Sutcliffe was denied by Francis with another credible save.
In the last few minutes plus added time, Clapton tried in vain to force something from the game but despite their slightly belated urgency and hurry along with three free-kicks and a couple of corners, they failed to trouble the scorers as Illsley headed clear and Benham took two more hoisted balls impressively out of the air and then did well to paw the ball away as it looked destined to curl in under the bar direct from a corner.
The victory keeps City top for now – a position they’ve held since the end of November, but there’s plenty of other teams seemingly poised to try to wrestle that position away from them having so many games in hand!
Final score: Canterbury City FC 2 Clapton Community FC 0.