Joshua Adeojo struck a 95th-minute winner to earn Hackney Wick all 3 points against East London rivals Clapton.

The Wickers came into the game on the back of a 4-game winning streak, whilst the visitors had won just 1 of their last 5, which was a 3-2 derby win over Clapton CFC.

Hackney Wick took an early lead as Max Grappy, making his first appearance since the 3-3 draw with Basildon Town in January, threaded it through to Victory Akam, who beat the keeper to it and slid it in!

Clapton responded almost immediately, just 3 minutes later a corner was played to the front post and headed in with ease.

And the Tons were gifted a chance to take the lead in the 15th minute, as Wickers keeper Bartz Klimkiewicz gave it straight to the attacker, who couldn’t get his shot away immediately, and when he did it was fired well over.

It was an end-to-end encounter, and Victory came close to restoring our lead as he was played through by Adam Cheniti, but the keeper stuck out a leg to deny the Wickers’ top scorer.

However, the lead was restored with just 19 minutes on the clock! It was almost a carbon copy of the chance just a few minutes earlier, as Adam played through Victory, who this time converted!

Clapton went down the other end but were denied by Bartz, who made a ridiculous save to stop a shot from point-blank range!

The Tons were continuing to look slightly unconvincing in defence, Darren Esuka’s cross spilled by the keeper, who did manage to recover to save Victory’s follow-up effort.

But another set-piece would be the downfall of Hackney Wick, another corner played to the front post and turned in to level the score.

HT: HACKNEY WICK 2-2 CLAPTON

It was a considerably more quiet second half than the first, with the first chance of any note coming just before the hour mark. Darren played a great cross to the back post but Victory poked it wide!

Clapton then took the lead for the first time as yet again they converted from a corner- but this one would not count as there was a push in the build-up.

Deep into injury time, substitute Josh attempted to win it with a speculative long-range effort that flew over.

But Josh was not going to settle for anything less than the winner, and this he found in the 5th minute of additional time as he tapped in Victory’s cross!

FT: HACKNEY WICK 3-2 CLAPTON

A huge 3 points for the Wickers, who keep up the pressure on 7th-placed Cannons Wood.

NEXT MATCH:
We are next in action on Saturday (9th March) as we visit NW London, 15:00 kickoff at Harlow Town’s Barrows Farm Stadium.