Clapton CFC Women’s First Team deservedly won for the first time since January with a hard-fought 2-1 victory at AFC Greenwich Borough.
Leigha Bradding-Butler looked dangerous early on, dragging a shot narrowly wide in the 9th minute before nearly beating the keeper from a Maria Mendonca cross shortly after. The early pressure paid off in the 14th minute. Mendonca latched onto a lovely through ball from Marta Boiro and unleashed an audacious lob over the Borough keeper.
Greenwich were inches from levelling when a corner struck the post but equalised in the 41st minute, when the impressive Jasmine Harris drilled a powerful low shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.
Clapton started the second half as impressively as the first and in the 50th minute, Kaylee Shurety played a perfectly weighted ball down the line to Marta Casanovas, who beat her marker and whipped a cross to the far post, where Boiro was waiting to head home and restore the lead.
The final 30 minutes were a test of nerves. but the Clapton backline remained resolute, helped by the fresh legs of Noora Oikarainen, Aimee Shaw, and Ching Chun helped Clapton maintain their shape. Up top, Bradding-Butler in particular put in a tireless shift to hold the ball.
While firmly out of both the promotion and relegation pictures, both teams have their eye on finishing in fifth place. And CCFC gave themselves a chance with this win that takes them three points clear, although Greenwich have a couple of games in hand.
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