Clapton CFC Women’s First Team suffered a frustrating 2–1 defeat away at Herne Bay on Sunday. losing it late on.
Due to player availability on Bank Holiday weekend in August, Clapton were forced to play three different outfield players in goal across the 90 minutes. Despite the adversity, it was a performance packed with grit and attacking intent.
It looked like it would be a long afternoon when Herne Bay took the lead in the 5th minute with the first chance of the game.
However, Clapton responded with real character. Egle Trezzi threatened with a header, while Emily Link had a strong penalty appeal turned down
Moments later, first emergency goalkeeper Lucy Spours slid to deflect a Herne Bay effort onto the post and keep the margin at one.
Trezzi put the gloves on at the 25-minute mark with Spours switched to right-back and Clapton continued to press.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 45th minute. Link shrugged off a tackle ant cut the ball back perfectly from the byline for Vee Hayward to tap home for 1–1. A first goal for the first team for Hayward.
The second half odds looked to be on our favour when Herne Bay were reduced to 10 players after a sin-binning in injury time.
Clapton started the second half with debutant Lucia Halliwell taking over in goal, allowing Trezzi to move to central defence.
Hayward fired narrowly wide from the edge of the box in the 64th minute, and Link forced a good save from the Herne Bay stopper on 70 minutes.
Against the run of play on 81 minutes, a skidded cross into a crowded box ended with Herne Bay scrambling the ball over the line.
It proved to be the winner in a frantic, physical encounter by the seaside.
Special credit goes to Marta Casanovas for playing between back-to-back hospital night shifts, and Ciara Monaghan for battling through 73 minutes after a week off ill.
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