Clapton CFC FTFA team ended its first season with silverware after beating Stonewall FC in the London Women’s Saturday Football League Cup final at New River Stadium.
With the sun beating down, the crowd was already in jubilant mood after Clapton CFC Women/NB Development Team’s earlier victory in the LWSFL Plate Final.
As can be expected in a final the game began cautiously with both teams showing nerves as they worked their way into the game. Built on a solid defence Clapton began to take control, moving the ball across the back into the middle trying to break the lines with balls in behind the Stonewall backline for the front three to chase.
Slowly the pressure began to build, Clapton began to put test the Stonewall defence with a mixture of crosses and a free-kick from Tammy that whistled over the bar.
After the water break, with the instructions from the dugout to keep calm, play the simple pass and the goal will come, came the first meaningful attack from Clapton. Winning the ball in midfield and quickly across the middle to the left wing, Ching was able to dig out a cross for Annie in the penalty area, whose shot on the turn struck the hand of a Stonewall defender. The referee pointed to the spot. No need for VAR. Penalty to Clapton. Up stepped Aimee, who calmly stroked the ball into the centre of the goal and into the net off the legs of Stonewall’s keeper. 1-0 Clapton.
Kick-off brought the first real attack from Stonewall, a wayward Hollywood pass was intercepted by the Stonewall centre-back, quickly moved forward to the Stonewall striker who ran towards the box and brought a save from Paula diving to her left pushing the ball round the post and out for a corner. A wake up call to Clapton CFC to keep things simple and play calmly. 1-0 HT.
The second half began with a couple of changes from the Clapton dugout, adding energy, and the team began to take control of the game. The second goal always felt close and finally Aimee was able to break the defensive line of Stonewall, running onto a pass from Lucy and neatly slotting the ball past the keeper. 2-0.
As the second half continued Clapton, began to take full control of the game with some neat passing and sensible movement they began to pull Stonewall out of position. The energy of Annie up front was rewarded with a battling third goal as she ran onto Lucy’s through ball, tussled with the Stonewall centre-backs and goalkeeper and scrambled the ball over the line. Scrappy but they all count, 3-0 and another goal for the league’s top scorer.
Clapton controlled the rest of the game, the defence always in control, as the spirit and energy that had seen the team reach the final was rewarded with the final whistle blown and the victory confirmed. Celebrating in front of the fans, led by the captain Tammy and goalkeeper Paula, the trophy was lifted aloft and on its way to the Old Spotted Dog.
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