Clapton CFC bowed out of the London & South East Regional Women’s Football League Cup with a 3–0 home defeat to Brentford in a third round tie that was closer than the scoreline suggests.
Our higher division visitors dominated the first 20 minutes, with Clapton forced to defend with maximum concentration. Goalkeeper Ella Bowles made three important interventions: a firm catch from a close-range header, a sprint from her line to smother a through ball, and a sharp save with her feet.
As they weathered the storm, CCFC then almost took the lead on the break on 22 minutes. Egle Trezzi won the ball and played it through to top scorer Leigha Bradding-Butler, whose shot beat the keeper but drifted inches wide. Moments later, Maria Mendonca’s snapshot from the edge of the box was deflected narrowly wide.
Clapton went even closer on 40 minutes when Bradding-Butler stole possession near halfway, spotted the Brentford keeper off her line, and executed an audacious first-time lob from distance. It had the keeper beaten but crashed agonisingly off the post and out.
Just as it looked like a hard earnt 0–0 at the break, Brentford opened the scoring in the 43rd minute. A clever bit of play down the left from The Bees’ Chelsie Berry set up Habeebat Gbajabiamila to tap in from close range. The referee waved away Clapton’s offside appeals – perhaps the pass went backwards.
Then, deep into added time, the visitors doubled their lead with a stunning long-range strike from Alissa Down into the top corner. An unstoppable shot but the CCFC players afterwards admitted they should have closed her down before it got to that.
Clapton regrouped after the interval and remained competitive throughout the second half, while Brentford largely controlled possession. On 71 minutes, Li Steiner robbed a Brentford defender and drove a low shot across the keeper but the ball rolled agonisingly wide of the far post. That would have been her first ever goal for the club.
Brentford eventually sealed the tie in the 89th minute, Cloe O’Brien firing in their third from close range.
The team are now out of all cup competitions but can feel satisfied with a performance that matched a strong Tier 5 side for large spells.