Clapton CFC Women’s First Team progressed in style in the FA Cup as both Leigha Bradding-Butler and Marta Boiro scored hat-tricks.
Romford Town couldn’t be faulted for commitment in their first game of the season, but it was always an uphill task with a largely new team and against a team a division higher.
A strange start to the game at the Noak Hill Sports Complex saw a kit clash which forced CCFC to play with shirts inside out.
Clapton were on the front foot from the off and it was Annie Lyons who scored first on 16 minutes, applying a final touch from close range from Leigha Bradding-Butler’s free-kick.
Within a minute, Maria Mendonca carved open the Romford defence and squared for Bradding-Butler to score herself.
She doubled her tally shortly after, curling a superb strike into the far corner from the edge of the box.
Clapton’s attacking momentum continued, but some dogged defending and good goalkeeping from Romford Town meant it was 3-0 at half-time.
On 52 minutes, Bradding-Butler completed her hat trick with a composed finish off the post.
Then Marta Boiro came on as a sub for her first appearance of the season due to illness and holidays and scored a hat-trick too.
Playing in her old role of midfield, she first struck on the hour mark, reacting quickest to a rebound after Mendonca’s effort had been saved. Then, on 67 minutes, she produced a stunning free-kick curled into the top corner.
Moments later Mendonca was rewarded with a goal after a game of tireless running, capitalising on confusion in the Romford Town defence to roll in Clapton’s seventh.
Boiro then turned provider, whipping in a corner for Egle Trezzi to head home at the near post, before completing her own hat trick in the closing minutes, forcing the ball over the line from close range.
The win sees Clapton CFC earn £1800 in prize money and progress to the second qualifying round. We’re not sure when the draw takes place.