Clapton CFC overwhelmed St Margaretsbury at a roasting Old Spotted Dog to progress to the second qualifying round of the Women’s FA Cup. This smashed the record for the biggest CCFC win, topping the men’s team’s 11-1 victory over Hereford Palace in November 2018.
The visitors, who play in the tier below, were without a regular goalkeeper. This left two outfield players to take thankless shifts between the sticks for each half.
With Clapton in irresistible attacking form – especially Teju Callisto – this made for a long afternoon for the Hertfordshire side.
One Way Traffic
With the usual drummers in the Scaffold absent, the relentless rhythm came from the Clapton players on the pitch.
The home side got in behind the Margaretsbury back line a few times early on, but could not apply the finishing touch. Then, just shy of the quarter hour mark, they made the breakthrough. And didn’t look back…
1-0: Lenny Holmes laid the ball on a plate for Emily Link, who sent a powerful side-foot shot into the roof of the net from 25 yards.
2-0: Callisto held her run to beat the offside trap and Link threaded a through ball right into her path. Callisto’s low shot was just out of the keeper’s reach, to cap a fine move.
3-0: A second emphatic strike by Callisto beat the keeper to give CCFC a third.
DRINKS BREAK
4-0: Marta Boiro took one touch to lay herself up and then sent a left footed volley into the St Margaretsbury net past the stranded goalkeeper. Best goal of the bunch.
5-0: Maria Mendonca burst past her marker down the right before cutting the ball across the box. Callisto side-footed home for her hat trick.
6-0: Callisto was again found by Mendonca. Teju showed some lovely footwork to create space before firing past the St Margaretsbury keeper.
7-0: Marta Casanovas beat the offside and drew the keeper towards her before tucking the ball neatly into the corner.
More One Way Traffic
CCFC made three subs for the second half. Ana Holmes, Li Steiner, and Larissa Vieira on for Lenny Holmes, Boiro and Casanovas.
8-0: Link caught the new St Margaretsbury keeper off balance and slid the ball into the far corner.
9-0: Vieira got in on the act, firing home from inside the penalty area.
10-0: Ana Holmes cut past a defender in the box and stroked past the goalkeeper.
11-0: Mendonca’s creative efforts all afternoon are rewarded with a goal.
12-0: Callisto again!
DRINKS BREAK (PHEW! š° )
13-0: Callisto again!!
14-0: Callisto again!!! The striker reacted quickest to a block to beat the keeper from close range. Seven goals for Teju! SEVEN! Unreal.
A quick rain shower meant a bit of merciful relief from the heat. The referee’s final whistle felt merciful as well, for the visiting players who had never stopped battling in the face of an impossible lost cause.
Onwards!
Clapton will receive Ā£1,800 in prize money and go on to play Wodson Park away (in Ware, Hertfordshire) on Sunday, October 1.
Photos
Player of the match
Who else???
Attendance
208