Huge injury list adds to Clapton’s woes

3:17pm Thursday 20th April 2006

CLAPTON'S miserable end to the season continued with two more heavy defeats against Ware and Witham Town over the Bank Holiday weekend.

The Tons home match with Ryman League Division Two table toppers Ware on Saturday couldn't have gone any worse, with injury reducing them to ten men during the game.

Manager Jim Hendry, who was only able to muster 12 players for the match at the Old Spotted Dog and resulted in him having to don his boots, must have watched on in despair as injuries to Ahbad Hussain and Morat Ilhan in the first half, left the hosts playing much of the game with ten men.

By then Ware were already three goals to the good, with Chris Ellerbeck getting the ball rolling after 23 minutes. Joe Stevens doubled the lead from the penalty spot 11 minutes later, before John Frendo added a third three minutes before the break.

The Tons put in a spirited display at the start of the second half, but numerical advantage finally told in the 73rd minute when Frendo grabbed his second of the afternoon.

A second penalty was added by Jimmy Martin on 82 minutes, before a further spot kick was converted right at the end by Ware keeper Anthony Anstead.

Things improved slightly at Witham Town on Monday, but Clapton still crashed to a 3-0 defeat. The hosts took the lead after 16 minutes when Kevin Hawes fired home at the second attempt.

Kevin Budge headed home a second for Witham on 36 minutes, before Cody McDonald rifled in a third on 51 minutes.

Reflecting on the results Tons manager Hendry said: "We had four players out for these games so myself and a couple of the coaches had to go on so we could fulfil the fixtures, which of course isn't the ideal situation.

"We have two games to go now. Saturday sees us travel to Croydon and then we finish up with a home tie against Dorking.

"It's been a difficult time and I've felt for the young players, because they have no senior players around on the pitch to support them, "We might not have got the results lately, but I've told the young players that this is an opportunity for them to make a claim for a place next season and while they lack experience, they have a good attitude."