CLAPTON boss Wilfred Thomas paid tribute to goalkeeper Joe Wright after his side s victory at home to Barking on Saturday but fears he may soon lose the talented teenager, writes IAIN LIDDLE. Wright broke into the side at the Spotted Dog Ground last seaso
CLAPTON boss Wilfred Thomas paid tribute to goalkeeper Joe Wright after his side's victory at home to Barking on Saturday but fears he may soon lose the talented teenager, writes IAIN LIDDLE.
Wright broke into the side at the Spotted Dog Ground last season when he was just 16 and has looked more than comfortable in senior football.
His displays have caught the attention of Championship big-spenders Queens Park Rangers, where he has been on trial for the past two weeks, and Thomas says he is turning into one of his key performers.
"Joe stood out for me," said the Clapton chief. "He came into the side last year and has been playing better every week.
"He's developed leaps and bounds in that time and QPR want to take a closer look at him."
Clapton's Joseph Chege missed a penalty on 40 minutes at the weekend, after a move in which Barking's goalkeeper Chris Clark was sent off, and the hosts fell behind in the Essex Senior clash on 57 minutes.
Substitute Messiah Odinma leveled on 61 minutes and after constant pressure, put his side in front with four minutes to go.
Zina Barisasi added a third on 88 minutes to create a scoreline which better reflected the nature of the game.
"It was just a matter of how many we would score in the second half," said Thomas, who confirmed Chege would no longer take penalties for the club.
"I said at half time how I expect nothing less than a win because we were the better team."
Clapton host Tiptree United on Saturday.
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