Match report by Harry Gillies as the Clapton CFC Women’s First Team scored eight goals without reply at a drizzly Old Spotted Dog Ground
The hosts produced a dominant display to seal a fourth win in a row with captain Emily Link having a game to remember, scoring a hat trick and stepping in as goalkeeper in the second half.
A very well deserved three points pushes Clapton up to second place in the Division 1 North table (but having played more games than any other team). The result also saw Clapton double the score line from their game last week against the same opposition.
First Half
It was always going to be a difficult afternoon for Whyteleafe who started with 10 players after the long trip up from Surrey. Clapton came out of the blocks with an early high press, clearly eager to make the numerical advantage count.
Marta Casanovas was bright from the start, using her skill and balance to wrong foot her opposition and get a shot off in the box. Casanovas continued as a protagonist in the opening 10 minutes, creating the first goal of the afternoon. With a classic cut in from the left wing, she played a beautiful pass forward into the path of Link. The Clapton skipper calculated her angles quickly and efficiently, opening her body up to side foot a perfect shot into the bottom right corner.
With the Clapton fans in fine boisterous form, this early goal was one to whet the appetite for the coming goal feast. Li Steiner was another stand out in this opening period, imposing herself in midfield, winning every duel.
Moments later, Taiyah Evans glided down the right wing and whipped in a cross for Lucy Spours to arrive with a crashing header off the bar and in to make it 2-0. The Whyteleafe keeper suffered a knock in attempting to save the Spours header but soldiered on.
Left back Marta Boiro excited the fans with a clean nutmeg on the left wing. The Spanish defender was impressive throughout, being one of the main creative forces for Clapton. Boiro displayed a range of defence splitting passes, favouring a curled technique to play her strikers in behind the Whyteleafe back line.
Whyteleafe weren’t lying down and with only 20 minutes gone Katrina Marshalleck raced through on goal but placed her shot narrowly wide of the right hand post.
But it was Clapton who soon grabbed the third. Link stepped forward in midfield and played a delicious outside of the boot pass to the left wing. This ball invited Casanovas to run into open grass and arch a shot high, looping delicately over the opposition keeper. A stunning goal of true class and timing.
In the closing stages of the first half, a wayward backpass went in for an unfortunate fourth goal. That misfortune was compounded by the keeper – who had been impressive in both our games against the Leafe – being forced to come off, her injury having worsened. Whyteleafe were now down to 9 players with an outfield player stepping in net.
It was admirable of Whyteleafe that they continued to play good football. In her post match interview, Link expressed sympathy – “They started with 10 which was unfortunate but obviously you can only play what’s in front of you. Then when their keeper went off and they went down to 9 and had to swap in, you do feel a little bit sorry for a team that has to go through that.”
The final 10 minutes of the first half saw fantastic combination play between the Clapton full backs and midfield. Evans again rampaged down the right hand side and clipped a ball into the box which fell to Link, volleying home into an exposed net before the end of the first half. 5-0 at half time.
Second Half
Annie Lyons and Chloe Owen were subbed on at half time and within the first five minutes, Owen made an instant impact, scoring her first goal for Clapton with a fine header.
Evans continued to overwhelm Whyteleafe with her tenacious play down the right wing. Another fast cross from the Number 9 somehow found its way in for a sixth goal.
Around the 55th minute, a triple sub of Egle Trezzi, Julia Moulton and Maria Mendonca were brought on for Clapton. Mendonca caught fire with her first touch, dribbling down the left wing and firing a low cross into the box.
Around the 60th minute, Clapton keeper Janell Mathurin injured herself when coming out to clear a through ball. Link took her place in goals and produced some fine saves of her own, despite an unorthodox style.
Clapton pushed for more goals and incisive passing between Mendonca and Evans led to the home side winning a foul in the box. A collective outcry from the home support willed Link to run up from her own box and take the penalty.
She coolly stepped up and converted into the bottom right corner, exemplifying the role of captain. So certain of scoring, she said after the game – “Annie Lyons said as I was running down “But what if they counter?” but I said “Annie why do you not think I’m going to score it?!”
8-0 before the 70 minute mark summed up a brutal day for the away team. If the Surrey side could take any solace, it would be from the performances of centre back Grace Gandoo and Number 30 Marshalleck. Both players never gave up and showed great skill and strength in each duel they entered. Marshalleck saw a powerful free kick saved by Link as Whyteleafe continued to press for a consolation.
The grey drizzle did not dampen the spirits of the home support throughout this sensational afternoon of football, with fans singing “We just get better when it is wetter.”
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