Bloods remain unbeaten in August

Clapton 0 - Walden 3

Essex Senior League Premier Division, Tuesday 28th August 2018

Goals from Julian Simon-Parson, Charlie Portway and Gregg Strong helped see Saffron Walden Town to victory at The Old Spotted Dog against Clapton on Tuesday night in the Essex Senior League Premier Division.

The visitors arrived late due to traffic issues around the capital but it didn't seem to affect them as they were quickly in control of this contest, taking the lead after seven minutes when Simon-Parson burst though the hosts defence to slot beyond Dan Martin, and then six minutes later Portway broke the offside trap to run through and slot home and double the visitors lead.

The hosts had their first opening on 16 minutes but the effort was scuffed into Neil O'Sullivan's hands, and the next opportunity didn't arrive until nine minutes from time when Reed whipped a dangerous free-kick into the visitors area but O'Sullivan managed to punch away the danger.

The visitors then saw a cross headed out from underneath the hosts bar, before Portway headed straight at Tons keeper Martin four minutes before the break, and then just before the break Jeffrey Cobblah cut inside and fired an effort at the visitors goal, but it was straight at O'Sullivan in the Walden net.

And in first half stoppage time the Tons went close to reducing the arrears when Andy Greenslade got in down the right and his cut-back was almost turned home by a defender but O'Sullivan managed to save. It meant the visitors went into the break with a two goal cushion.

Half Time Clapton 0 Saffron Walden Town 2

The Tons went close two minutes after the restart when Ryan Reed swiveled and struck a left footed effort just wide of the far post, but seven minutes into the half Walden made it three when a header back across goal was bundled home by Strong and the Catons Lane outfit were three goals clear.

Walden then saw two headers saved by Martin, before life got even tougher for the hosts when Eusebio Da Silva went over inside the box, but he was deemed to have dived and as it was his second yellow, he was dismissed leaving Clapton with ten men.

Six minutes later Walden substitute Dan Trendall fired an effort at goal but saw Martin save the effort, and then moments later visiting defender Ryan Flemming was shown a second yellow for a late challenge, meaning it was now ten vs ten for the remaining quarter of the contest.

Walden then saw Lewis Francis volley an effort against the inside of the post, before Trendall then headed over from six yards out. With ten minutes to go Tons substitute Jay Morris turned and struck a decent effort wide of the Walden net, and then with four minutes remaining saw another substitute Valentino Iheanyiogo header deflect over.

The Tons, who were trying to find a consolation goal, forced O'Sullivan into a decent near post save, before Walden broke through substitute Tom Lakin but he could only slice wide, and then moments later he volleyed against the post from an acute angle.

Tons had one last chance to snatch a late goal but saw the effort scuffed straight at O'Sullivan, and it meant a clean sheet for the visitors and three points too. The Bloods are now 3rd in the table.

Full Time Clapton 0 Saffron Walden Town 3

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