It was a day of cup heartache at the Old Spotted Dog Ground as Clapton Women’s First lost 5-3 in a shootout with Comets to bow out of the Capital Women’s Cup. As Harry Gillies reports, Clapton displayed courage, fighting back from 2-0 down to make it 2-2, only to go out on penalties.

A ‘blink and you’d miss it moment’, the game started with the ball soon in Clapton’s net. With barely two minutes gone, Maria Sloan drifted through the middle of the Clapton back line. Although, a bit lucky with the break, Sloan guided the ball into the bottom right corner. A well taken goal, the first time Comets went up the pitch.  

Undeterred, the home side started to play their usual passing game. Emily Link dropped deep and displayed excellent hold up play as she found precise, round the corner passes to her wingers. This opened up space for Ana Holmes in particular. The first chance for Clapton came when Holmes flicked the ball with the outside of her boot round her opponent. She then unleashed a left foot shot that went just wide.

Clapton dominated the ball in the first 10 minutes as they chased an equaliser. Then Comets went up the pitch for the second time and won a corner. The ball fell to Ellie Vaughan in the box who volleyed it well into the top left corner. A goal that came completely against the run of play and left Clapton 2-0 down.

It was going to take a determined player to drag the team back into the contest. This was Ana Holmes. The Number 6 was outstanding for Clapton in the first half. Her performance embodied desire combined with fantastic technique as she strived to pull her side back into the game. She flicked the ball by oncoming defenders giving herself time and space to pick out the key pass.

Clapton were relentless in the final period of the half. Their constant possession gave hope that a vital goal would arrive before half time. But Comets have kept their team together for several years and this showed in the organisation of their defence in dealing with high balls and blocking crosses.

Holmes and Link began to shoot from range. Clapton’s passing became more fluid and Marta Boiro combined well with the midfielders, but they struggled to find a killer final ball. Marta Casanovas commented on this after the game: “I think we were playing some nice football at times but we were missing that last ball in or that last pass to get someone a clear shot. We had spells where we were playing some nice football but other ones where we should have pushed on a bit more.”

Just when it seemed that the Comets’ defence would hold out, there was a moment of panic in the back line. Holmes swooped on a loose ball after defensive errors and found herself one on one with the goalkeeper, albeit at a bad angle to get a shot off. Holmes, in typical fashion, kept running wide at full pelt and angled a right foot shot which trickled towards the far-right post.

After an excruciating slow-motion moment, the ball hit the inside of the post and rolled across the line. The Scaffold faithful erupted and Clapton were back in the game. It capped off a tremendous first half for Ana who deserved her goal on what was her 50th competitive game for the club.

Egle Trezzi almost grabbed an equaliser with a fantastic shot from outside of the box that the Comets’ keeper miraculously saved onto the bar. The topic of keepers was interesting for the Comets, as 3 players took a spell in goal throughout the game.

The fight was on, and momentum was all Clapton’s as the whistle blew for half time.

Second Half

Clapton maintained their energy levels into the second half. Holmes and Trezzi drove the team forward, bulldozing runs through the heart of midfield. With each corner won, the Clapton fans anticipated an equaliser.

Link’s touch was immaculate. She effortlessly plucked balls out of the sky and trapped it under her foot, buying herself an extra half second as all top players do. Her Cruyff turns and combinations started many Clapton attack.

Taiyah Evans came on in the 60th minute to provide freshness.

Clapton’s possession resulted in brilliant play down the right wing and across to the edge of the box. The ball fell to Trezzi who took one touch and hit a volley beautifully into the Comets’ net.

Clapton were on top, as fans dreamed of a third goal to complete the comeback. The momentum expected from the equaliser did not last long enough. Instead of carrying Clapton towards a winner, the game seemed to cool down as Comets got more possession of the ball. Clapton had expended so much energy in chasing the game. Comets had a chance to take advantage of tired legs.

The influential Link came off for a breather, replaced by Aimee Shaw to try to grab the winner.

Comets sniffed a chance to attack Clapton. Trezzi was strong in the tackle, but the Comets kept coming forward. They had only attacked Clapton twice in the first half but looked more threatening in the final phase of the match.

Clapton weathered the storm, though. Their next close chance came when Trezzi swung in a ball from the left wing that soared high over the players, only for it to be cleared off the line at the back post. Pia Mingkwan was an imposing, skilful defender for Comets in the closing stages as she stayed calm under pressure.

In anticipation of penalties, Link was subbed back on for Clapton.

Neither team produced much in the closing stages, with penalties the inevitable outcome. It was a disappointment that Clapton could not find the strength to produce a winner though they had dug so deep to level the match.

A red sky shone from behind the goal as both teams prepared for penalties. It would be shepherd’s delight for Comets in the end as they won 5-3, with just one spot-kick not scored, knocking Clapton out.

After the penalties, Lucy Spours said: “It’s kind of a roll of the dice really. Everyone on the team can kick a ball at the goal on target with a bit of power. It’s a psychological thing but it’s never really a fair way to end things. We should have got that game done in 90 minutes so it’s a really frustrating one. It was an ambition of ours to have a cup run so we need to regroup, go away again and reevaluate what our next ambitions are as a team.”

On the next cup competition, in the League Cup on December 1 at home to Aylesford, she said: “That one will be ours!”