Clapton CFC exited the Women’s FA Cup despite taking a two-goal lead at Chelmsford City’s Melbourne Stadium.
A quality performance with goals for Emily Link either side of half-time put CCFC in a commanding lead with just over 30 minutes to go. However, four unanswered goals within a 20 minute spell ended Clapton’s cup journey.
Clapton began to assert themselves as the half progressed. In the 28th minute, Link spotted the Chelmsford goalkeeper off her line and took a first-time shot from distance, watching it float onto the roof of the net.
Four minutes later, the away side broke the deadlock. Marta Casanovas picked out Link with a pass into the right channel; Link cut inside onto her left foot, and beat her marker and the keeper at the near post.
Clapton almost doubled their advantage in the 41st minute when Link won possession near the halfway line and drove forward to set up Maria Mendonca, whose rising effort cleared the bar.
In stoppage time, Ella Bowles produced a brave save, diving at the feet of an incoming striker in her final game before heading to university.
Clapton started the second half on the front foot. Just two minutes after the restart, Casanovas cut the ball back to Link, who fired over. A minute later, in the 48th minute, the pair combined again with Link coolly slotting home at the far post.
Chelmsford pulled a goal back in the 57th minute after a chaotic scramble in the penalty box resulted in an own goal. Five minutes later, Chelmsford drew level at 2–2 when a cross from the right flank was turned in for another own goal.
The momentum shifted entirely in the 67th minute when a long-range strike looped over Bowles to give Chelmsford a 3–2 lead. The turnaround was complete in the 77th minute as another unstoppable strike from distance extended the margin to 4–2.
In truth Clapton did not look like completing a comeback of their own although they should have been handed a lifeline with around four minutes remaining.
As Link raced through and took a goal-bound shot, the ball was saved by the advancing Chelmsford goalkeeper outside the area. Despite strong appeals for a red card, the referee opted to issue a yellow card and the free-kick came to nothing.
So a disappointing exit but there’s still the Capital Cup and the League Cup to play for, alongside the league campaign.
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