Actonians Reserves vs Clapton Community FC takes place on Sunday, February 11 2024 with a 2pm kick off at the Gunnersbury Park Sports Hub, Popes Lane London W3 8LQ

The Clapton CFC women’s first team head to West London on Sunday looking to avenge our defeat against Actonian Reserves earlier in the season.

Our team had a free Sunday last weekend, which was probably a good rest given a recent run of injuries, the latest of which saw Chelsie Sparks and Lily Smith ruled out for significant spells. The week before, two new players stepped up for impressive first team debuts – midfield starlet Taiyah Evans and Sophie Ugur up front from the bench.

It’s a meeting of top sides in the top half, with the winner potentially going into third place as we enter the crucial last few months of the season.

The opposition

Actonians LFC was founded in 1998 as Chiswick United, before becoming Acton Sports Club four seasons later and then in 2008 part of Old Actonians, a men’s club formed in 1925. They now have multiple women’s and girls’ teams. The women’s first team are in the fourth tier FA Women’s National League Division One South East and play at Middlesex FA headquarters at Rectory Park in Northolt.

Previous meetings

Earlier in the season, we lost 5-1 at the Old Spotted Dog Ground, all five of the Actonians’ goals in the first half, and scoring with pretty much every attack in a blistering spell. That proved to be the last game for our previous head coach, with Jason Murray taking over since.

We’d also met once before, in the semi-final of the John Greenacre Memorial Trophy in 2022. CCFC won 3-0 at the Stray Dog in Walthamstow with goals from Maria Mendonca and the two Martas, Boiro and Casanovas.

Form guide

Actonians Reserves were promoted last season as champions – their third promotion in succession. This season they’re above us in the top half with six wins including the only team to have beaten Sport London e Benfica.

Players to watch

Katy Hanscomb is the team’s top scorer this season with 11 goals so far, including 2 against us. Kayleigh Peters was top scorer with 19 last season, and has just returned to the team after 4 months out, presumably due to injury.

Admission

The Gunnersbury Park Sports Hub is a new facility also used by Brentford FC’s community youth teams. As it’s a 3G pitch, it should survive whatever the weather throws at us. We’re assuming it’s free entry.

Directions

Gunnersbury Park lies between Acton, Brentford, Chiswick and Ealing, West London. The Sports Hub is 15 minutes’ walk from Acton Town station, 21 minutes from Kew Bridge and 21 minutes from South Ealing.

Parking is available on site for £1 per hour (coins and cards accepted, Ringo app also available).