Clapton CFC kicked off their Women’s FA Cup campaign winning a nine-goal thriller against a strong AFC Welwyn side.
The competition carries significant history for our club, due to the 2021/22 season heroics in becoming the first seventh-tier club in history to reach the Third Round.
Nowadays we’re sixth tier, so too are AFC Welwyn having been promoted in their first season without losing a single game.
The visitors got off to an electric start at the University of Hertfordshire campus in Hatfield, taking the lead after just three minutes when Emily Link slotted into the corner.
CCFC goalkeeper Ella Bowles was called into action shortly after, pulling off two sharp saves to protect the early advantage before Link doubled the lead in the 10th minute by out-sprinting the defence and finishing with composure.
Midway through the half, summer signing Flo Hobbes saw her impressive debut cut short following a heavy collision, to be replaced by Annie Lyons.
Clapton extended their lead in spectacular style shortly before the break when Marta Boiro unleashed a dipping strike from thirty yards out into the top corner.
However, Welwyn grabbed one back before half-time, steered home from close range after Bowles had initially saved a deflected free kick.
3-1 at half-time didn’t feel entirely comfortable, and Welwyn started the second half with renewed intensity. They clawed it back to 3-2 quickly, with a thumping strike into the corner.
Welwyn would have fancied continuing their comeback but Clapton responded through Maria Mendonca, who worked hard to force home her own rebound for her first goal of the season.
In the 66th minute, Clapton adjusted their shape as Noora Oikarainen came on at right back for Boiro, allowing Lucy Spours to push forward into midfield. Spours immediately made her presence felt, unlocking the opposition defence to set up Mendonca for her second.
Allana Scoble saw a long-range shot tipped onto the cross bar which would have been a fitting reward for a player of the match performance.
Welwyn were awarded a penalty for a handball against Li Steiner after the ball bounced up and hit her hand. Bowles got a hand to the spot kick, but the power carried it into the net.
That made it 5-3 but realistically it was too late for Welwyn now with the game deep in stoppage time. There was time for another goal, but it was for Clapton. Scoble set up Link to place her finish neatly into the bottom corner, completing her first hat-trick since October 2024.
Clapton CFC advance to the Second Round Qualifying, where yet another away tie awaits them against Chelmsford City.
After a disappointing start to the season thus far, Clapton will be hoping for a memorable cup run that could also kickstart the league campaign.
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