Clapton CFC suffered a tough night under the floodlights at the Old Spotted Dog Ground against an impressive and clinical Dulwich Hamlet Reserves side.

Coming off the back of a hard-fought draw against league leaders Maidstone United just four days prior, Clapton endured a nightmare start as Dulwich scored in the first 30 seconds after pounding on an error.

Egle Trezzi made a brilliant goal-line clearance moments later to deny a second, but the visitors’ relentless, high-intensity pressing and slick passing triangles down the right wing continually caused Clapton problems.

Before the quarter-hour mark, Dulwich doubled their lead, and further goals quickly followed to make it 0–3 and then 0–4.

It looked like an absolute hammering was on the cards, 4-0 down with over an hour left to play, but thankfully Clapton showed character to fight their way back to some respectability.

In the 29th minute, Emily Link scored her 13th goal of the season from a determined run down the right flank, cutting inside before firing home to make it 1–4.

However, any hope of a further comeback were thwarted with a penalty awarded just before the break. The referee pointed to the spot though Clapton protested it was a clean tackle from Trezzi. The spot-kick was converted and Clapton went into half-time 5-1 down.

The second half was less frantic. Goalkeeper Rhia Jacobs made a sharp one-on-one save midway through the half, while Aimee Shaw and Marta Casanovas both tested the opposition defence as Clapton pushed for a second.

However, Dulwich added a sixth in the 78th minute, bundling in from close range after a corner following an initial brilliant goal-line block by Lenny Holmes. Moments later, Dulwich grazed the crossbar with a lofted effort.

With minutes remaining, CCFC substitute Vee Hayward provided the home highlight of the night. Hayward’s sensational, lofted strike from 25 yards t arced gracefully over the keeper and into the back of the net.

Another positive was the match also saw a welcome debut off the bench from new signing Connie Howarth, who joins from Camden Town.

Clapton will look to dust themselves off and secure a reaction when they travel away to Ebbsfleet United this Sunday.

Speaking after the game, players Annie Lyons and Aimee Shaw reflected on a difficult evening…

“I think they overwhelmed us in the first 10 minutes; they were quick and intense, and that intensity was really lacking from us… Once one went in, it was a bit of a scramble and heads weren’t found again quick enough. But the football we played in the final third was actually really good, we created a lot of opportunities, and when we started again in the second half it looked a lot better.”

On Hayward’s brilliant late goal, they added:

“Goal of the night definitely! Especially when so many of them seem to go in against us… it’s nice that we have someone that can just ping one of those in for us.”

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