football rambles

 Before this game MK Irish seemed like a team that couldn't stop scoring and despite being lower mid-table Stansted had won their last four games and there had been plenty of goals in them. Therefore, I turned up expecting a goal-fest. How wrong I was! The first half was a fairly even affair with the one clear cut chance falling to the Irish that went just wide. The second half saw MK try and turn the screw and Stansted were under constant pressure. It didn't help that early in the half, the Stansted keeper, Charlie Turner injured his leg but played through the pain. In all honesty, he was definitely man of the match in what was a hard earned point for the Airport Army.

Another week and another 4 goals let in by the Tons. The game could have been so different with the visitors taking a 3-0 lead into the break. And although it is not his fault you have to wonder what is wrong with the club when they start with a winger in goals. Anyway, the game got off to a brilliant start with Clapton looking like they thought attack was the best form of defence. They were justly awarded just after 4 minutes when Barnwell put the East Londoners in the lead.  This started a frantic period where Stansted also came close and the Tons had a shot cleared off the line. We didn't have to wait long for the next goal though, as Barnwell doubled his tally and the Tons lead on 12 minutes with a goal that was as good as you will see anywhere. It's a shame nobody filmed it. The Tons weren't finished though and the wind started to help them a bit and a long clearance aided by the aforementioned wind aided Cook to score and make it 3-0 to Clapton with 9 minutes remainin...

I enjoyed myself so much at the Old Spotted Dog on Saturday that when I saw the Tons were playing at the nearest Essex Senior League team to us there was only one place to go on Saturday. Stansted Mountfitchett with it's Norman castle and thatched cottages was a market contrast to Clapton's East London home, but the locals were friendly and Clapton fans showed up in numbers to help swell the crowd and the bar takings. The Stansted Ground was all open apart from a stand on one side which strangely for non league football saw us being segregated to the right of the referee's tunnel. The rest of the ground was open with a social club behind one goal which you had to exit the ground to get to. The Clapton fans were in good voice and we had a brilliant time, but the result was another disappointment for the Tons (see the match report).