Clapton’s women’s team kept up the chase at the top of the GLWFL Premier on Sunday, with a solid win at Regents Park Rangers. But top side Bromley put away Enfield Thirds 7-0, so the gap at the top remains six points, with the Tons having played one game fewer.
Claudio Gomes reshuffled the pack after the cup win at Edgware Town, with Maria Mendonca at left back and Camila Marcolino taking up the more attacking role on that side.
Geese Geese Geese London!
The Tons took the lead ten minutes in. Marta Casanovas darted onto a through ball and dinked over the advancing goalie.
With Clapton’s next attack, Emily Link had a low shot from the edge of the box that just lacked the power to test the home keeper.
Regents Park had reacted well to losing the early goal and were getting the most of the possession. Their number 17 particularly caught the eye with some tidy play in the centre of the park. On fifteen minutes, Marcolino did well to clear dangerous ball into box with a cool back heel flick.
The hosts continued to probe, with long shot that seemed to be just wide. Polly Adams played safe to touch behind for a corner.
Then the Tons countered with a surging Casanovas run down the right. She cut back to Link whose shot was hacked off the line. The next Casanovas cutback found Marta Boiro, whose shot was caught by the goalie.
The goalmouth activity dried up a bit, but the spirits (and blood sugar levels) of the Tons fans perched on the grassy knoll overlooking the pitch were boosted by Young Ton Charlie, who handed round some delicious cookies. Marta B’s mum, guest of honour for the day, tried to teach him some Spanish. As is customary for games at Barn Elms, a gaggle of geese did a low flyover. And that was it for the first half action.
Rangers’ goose cooked
The second period started with another Clapton strike. Link held off a couple of defenders, the ball glued to her feet, as she bore down on goal. Opting for placement over power, she found the base of the post, which made a satisfying chime like a tubular bell. 2-0 Tons.
The visitors then loosened up and played some of their best football of the match. There was a delightful Zidane turn from Lucy Spours. There was some slick interplay between Boiro and Mendonca, ending up with the latter going for the corner. It hit the post. Straight after there was a long range shot, which the Regents Park keeper left as it looked to be heading wide. It hit the post too.
Just a minute later, the Tons then got their third goal. The irrepressible Casanovas sprinted clear on the right and kept her cool to slot past the goalkeeper.
Mendonca then whipped in a corner that a Rangers defender did well to scoop out from right on the line.
The visitors kept coming. A nicely lofted throughball from Marcolino fell to substitute Ciara Robinson, whose shot from a tight angle was caught.
Towards the end, Regents Park got on the scoresheet. They took a free kick from a good position on the edge of the box. It squirmed through the wall and past an unsighted Adams to give the hosts a consolation their play had definitely merited.
Clapton keep chasing, but will Bromley finally slip up?
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Attendance
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