Modus Hopper Random: Clapton Will Feel Wonderful Tonight After Cup Win

Monday, 7 September 2026

Clapton Will Feel Wonderful Tonight After Cup Win

Hopperational Details

Date & Venue

Sunday 6 September at The Hertfordshire Sports Village (Grass Pitch 2)

Result

AFC Welwyn Women 3 Clapton Community Women 6

Competition

Women’s FA Cup First Round Qualifying

Hopstats

This counts as a new venue for me and takes its place at 819 on the lifetime list. I’m here pragmatically rather than randomly as it’s only a short drive from Chateau Yapp. Any hoppers attending a women’s game at this level would be advised to check and double-check venues. There were at least three listed possibilities for this game depending on which website page you looked at.

Context

Both teams play in the sixth tier of the women’s pyramid, at the regional division one level. Welwyn are newly-promoted to the Eastern Region whereas Clapton Community are in the London & SE Region. However, league form counts for nothing in the cup as decided by traditional punditry.

Match Report

Thanks to the Clapton CFC bluesky feed for help in identifying scorers. I haven’t yet found a way of doing the same for Welwyn but will be happy to edit at a later date.

0-1 (3m) : the first attack had been Welwyn’s but the first goal set Emily Link on the way to a hat-trick. The visiting supporters were in good voice and supported by a bin drummer. This was an easy score after Welwyn had lost the ball in a dangerous area.

0-2 (10m) : a second for Link as she broke free down the right and rolled it past the home keeper.

Welwyn had a half-chance to get one back but their striker was forced wide so the shot from a narrow angle drifted wide. Something similar happened after a lengthy break due to an injury to Clapton’s Flo Hobbs. At this point Clapton were looking very comfortable.

0-3 (42m) : Marta Boiro added a third for Clapton with a dipping and maybe swerving shot from distance.

1-3 (44m) : A tap-in after visiting keeper Ella Bowles could only parry a Welwyn effort.

2-3 (50m) : Suddenly, it is game on again as Welwyn score with a very good goal taking the direct route and a neat finish.

2-4 (55m) : Maria Mendonca needed two attempts to restore the two-goal cushion, but she kept her composure when her first shot had been blocked.

Welwyn had not given up by any means and they had possession in the attacking half for a good percentage of the time, but there was no real cutting edge and the visitors’ defence held firm. As we entered the final quarter the quality of passing had dropped somewhat and both teams were more direct as players tired. It was a very warm afternoon.

2-5 (84m) : Surely the result decided now as Mendonca was released with a delicious pass down the left flank. The home keeper got a hand to the shot but now Clapton had a three-goal cushion with very little time left. They had two more decent chances, one of which bounced fortunately off the bar from a save.

3-5 (90+2m) : Welwyn score from a penalty after a clear handball. They would need two in two minutes.

3-6 (90+4) : Instead, Link completes her hat-trick, tucking the ball nicely just inside the post.

So What?

Not much to say except the usual cliché that Clapton Community will be in the hat for the draw for the next round.

Pix

The car park for the external pitches is a few hundred metres away. If visiting, follow signs for the university de Havilland campus and go to the far end, next to the sports village building. The path to the external pitches is down the left hand side as you look, and across the bus access road. Allow time to download and process a QR code for the parking management company, and be prepared to sign away your mortal soul and your children’s kidneys in the small print. Today’s game is on Grass Pitch 2, so I may have to come again at some point! A very nice surface it is too, though.

Two very snazzy kits, Welwyn’s mostly purple and Clapton’s mostly red.