Report by: Scott Lanza
Photos by: David Jackman
The Stags got Tuesday’s night’s 4-0 defeat against Redbridge out of their system by inflicting a heavy defeat on a Clapton side who started the day one place below the Stags in the table. Nathan Sollosi put in a man of the match performance to go along with his two goals; Ted Buchanan, Hassan Nalbant, Sonny Shilling, Sam Sollosi and Suley Zuhdu were the other marksmen, on an afternoon when Dan Blockley and his defence also put in a shift to keep a clean sheet.
Zuhdu was played in as early as the 3rd minute, with his shot blocked, however it was an indication of things to come because the next attack on 7 minutes saw the Stags open their account as a ball threaded to Nalbant was hooked into the net.
The Tons did rally themselves though, winning a corner immediately from the re-start which was cleared, going on to launch an instant counter-attack. Sam Sollosi had the final say in that one, a shot just outside the box that Alex Reed parried.
At this point Clapton still looked dangerous going forward and Dan Blockley had to pull of an excellent save to keep out a long range shot from Djaztion Viera-Mandka. Zuhdu then powered his way towards the Clapton box but Leon Wildman put in a solid tackle to win the ball, then Victor Ferrini used his strength to go on a lengthy run, shirking off a couple of challenges before finally being halted in his tracks by a heavy Conor Tyrrell challenge. The Stags had a lucky let-off in the 17th minute when Ferrini somehow managed to poke a shot wide from close range. That was to prove costly for the Tons because two minutes later Nathan Sollosi put a cross into the box that was handled by a Clapton player and the ref pointed to the spot. Suley Zuhdu drilled the penalty past Reed to put the Stag two goals up.
A fine save from Reed denied Jake Moss making it 3-0 when he tipped his long range shot over the bar. At the other end Blockley had to tip away a Smith-Reid corner that was floating dangerously towards the corner of the net, and the Stags glovesman then dealt with the following corner even more impressively by claiming the ball inside a packed six-yard box.
Zuhdu had a shot blocked, as did Nalbant as the Stags looked dangerous every time they went forward and then on 42 minutes they were able to add a further goal to the tally when Zuhdu’s cross to Nalbant was blocked, but only as far as Nathan Sollosi who slotted the ball past Reed to put the Stags well and truly in control.
Daniel Enguru was able to put a dangerous cross in from the left within the opening minute of the second half, but no Clapton players were able to get on the end of it. The Stags finally put a move together in the 55th minute which ended with Sam Sollosi steering a shot just inside the box past Reed to make it 4-0.
Clapton were able to create their best chance of the game shortly afterwards; a high ball was headed just over by Smith-Reid.
Sonny Shilling made it 5-0 in the 63rd minute after he was picked up by a diagonal pass inside the box and he finished the chance off with aplomb. Then three minutes later Nathan Sollosi scored his second of the afternoon after he charged into the box before squeezing the ball past the on-rushing Clapton keeper to make it 6-0.
The Stags almost played in Bademosi with a cross in the 71st minute, but that was now only blocked but launched a Clapton counter-attack that ended with Liam Foster hooking a cross clear moments later. And the Stags backline made sure that they kept their clean sheet when Blockley was equal to a well-placed free kick from Walkinshaw.
The Stags closed the show in the 85th minute when Bademosi placed a ball at the back post where Buchanan was waiting to fire it home. It was a dominate all-round performance, that not only sees the Stags return to winning ways, but also moves them up to 10th.
Buckhurst Hill:
Daniel Blockley
Alfie Harris
William Halford
Conor Tyrrell
Henry Day (Jack Griggs 59′)
Sonny Shilling (Ted Buchanan 75′)
Sam Sollosi (Ezekiel Bademosi 65′)
Jake Moss
Hassan Nalbant (Tyler Dolan 65′)
Suley Zuhdu (Capt)
Nathan Sollosi (Liam Foster 67′)
Scorers:
Hassan Nalbant (7′)
Suley Zuhdu (20’P)
Nathan Sollosi (42′, 66′)
Sam Sollosi (55′)
Sonny Shilling (63′)
Ted Buchanan (85′)
