Clapton CFC Women’s First Team are still searching for their first win in 2025 after a 2-3 defeat to Richmond & Kew at the Old Spotted Dog.

On a perishingly cold afternoon, it was Clapton who took the lead in the first half with goals from Emily Link and Maria Mendonca.

Richmond produced a remarkable second half comeback with a brace from Charlotte Close and a winner from Charlotte Willis-Sloanes carried the day for the away side.

Less than two hours before kick-off, torrential wind and rain battered The Old Spotted Dog ground. The pitch survived and the game was on.

The rain poured and the wind howled, but the Clapton fans’ spirits were not deterred as many braved the conditions.

Mendonca was an early bright spark down the left wing and Clapton dominated possession on an increasingly muddy surface.

With just over 10 minutes gone, Lucy Spours in midfield played an arched pass over the back line straight into the path of captain Link. The Clapton number 7 bore down on goal and just as she arrived at the edge of the box, chipped the keeper with power to send the ball perfectly under the bar and in for a 1-0 lead.

Minutes later, Richmond threatened at the other end as Close arrived at the back post with a header that crashed off the bar.

As the fans sang ‘you make me happy when skies are grey’, Clapton remained the dominant side, but Richmond threatened on the counter.

The magnificent Mendonca danced past four players at the edge of the box but could not get a clean shot off.

She was then played through minutes later by Egle Trezzi with a delicate outside of the boot pass, but Mendonca bent her shot wide of the far post.

Just before the end of the half, Aimee Shaw fired a pass into the feet of Mendonca in the box who hit a low shot past the keeper to finally get her goal and put Clapton 2-0 up.

Clapton struggled to get a grip on the second half and did not start with the same attacking force, giving Richmond belief.

A loose pass from Clapton fell to Richmond’s Close who ran into the box, rounded the keeper and slid the ball into an empty net to launch the comeback.

Richmond now had the momentum although Clapton fought valiantly to defend corners with goalkeeper, Janell Mathurin, claiming the ball well in the box before going down with an injury.

The piercing wind continued, and the box got muddier, terrible conditions for any goalkeeper.

With over an hour gone, Close once again took control and charged towards the edge of the box, before firing a low, awkward shot straight at Mathurin who spilled the ball in the mud and it spun beyond the line.

After pulling it back to 2-2, Richmond were on the ascendancy.

Clapton fought to hold on as the conditions did not let up.  You could not see the number on the back of Link’s shirt, for the mud had covered every inch of the red and white.

Clapton struggled to get up the pitch and Mathurin was clattered again in the box.

The Richmond comeback was complete when a cross from the left wing slipped from the grasp of Mathurin, as Clapton defenders failed to mark Sloanes who forced the ball over the line.

A late Clapton flurry did not bring any chances, but credit must go to Richmond who showed great spirit in fighting back.

It was an even game at every stage and on another day, Clapton would not have let their lead slip.

After the game, debutant Tammy Hymas said: “Once we conceded the first one, maybe our heads dropped a little.

“We didn’t necessarily carry through some of that first half momentum like we should have.

“I think we’re going to learn from it and we’ve had words in the changing room about doing better and learning from those mistakes that meant that we lost today.”

Clapton can now look forward to a cup tie next Sunday against Ashford United in the London & South East Regional Women’s League Trophy.

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