Fulham Women survived a serious scare to reach the second round of the League Cup winning 4-1 at Clapham Community FC this afternoon – having conceded a sixth-minute own goal.

Steve Jaye’s side made a contribution to the fan-owned community club’s big coat appeal on their arrival at the Old Spotted Dog Ground but their generosity continued onto the pitch when Olivia Dale’s backpass bobbled over the boot of Libby Stratton to give the tier six side the lead. The Whites had failed to heed a warning about the dangers of playing out from the back on a tricky playing surface when Stratton’s short ball put skipper Mary Southgate in all sorts of trouble and the terrific Teju Callisto, whose purposeful pressing typified the hosts’ high tempo start, lifted an audacious lob onto the roof of the net.

Fulham took a while to settle but their probing passing did begin to press Clapton back, with Georgia Heasman and Ede Buchele linking up nicely only for the young forward to fire a good chance over as the ball reared up off Daisy Davies. Heasman hammered an effort over herself before Megalie Mendes tested Chelsie Sparks with a curler having cut inside onto her right foot.

Chances continued to come for the visitors but Clapham’s commitment kept them at bay. Alex Hayman headed a deep cross from the impressive Madi Parsonson wide before a lengthy stoppage for an injury to Allana Scobbie allowed Jaye to issue instructions to his charges. The visitors eventually drew level just after the half way mark when Buchele burst onto a through ball and progressed down the right before picking out Heasman, who picked out the far corner precisely. There was a slight delay as the winger’s unerring finish had sent the ball through a hole in the net – but Fulham were level.

Fulham could easily have gone in front before the interval. Hayman had a couple of shots in quick succession after Clapton failed to clear a corner – with Lily Smith heading the second strike heroically away from underneath her own crossbar. The lively Lilly Lambird danced through the Clapton midfield before the bringing the very best out of Sparks, who palmed the effort around the post at full stretch.

Becky Stormer replaced Emily Bird at half time and Fulham were fired up after an impassioned team-talk. They took the lead within a minute of the restart when a cross-shot from Mendes looped over the unfortunate Sparks and Stormer extended the advantage four minutes later with an emphatic header from Parsonson’s perfect corner. The left wing-back, arguably Fulham’s most consistent performer, was unlucky not to score herself – rattling the crossbar with a rasping drive from distance.

Hayman hit the side netting as fatigue finally caught up with the hosts and Buchele saw a clever curler brilliantly tipped round the post by Sparks. The Fulham centre forward was not to be denied, though, as she pounced to power high into the net from four yards out after Heasman had struck the angle of post and bar after another excellent run down the right. The Whites eased through to the second round in the end, but Clapton’s spirit and the unique atmosphere at the capital’s oldest football ground made for an incredible afternoon.

CLAPTON COMMUNITY FC: Sparks; Scoble, Steiner, Davis, Callisto, Casanovas; Mendonco; Boiro; Phillips; Smith, Spoons. Subs: Holmes, Link, Natalia.

GOAL: Dale (o.g. 6)

FULHAM FC WOMEN (3-4-3): Stratton; Bird, Dale, Southgate; Parsonson, Mendes, Barron-Clark, Lambird; Heasman, Hayman, Buchele. Subs: Parker, Tagliavini, Lewis, Stormer, Adamson.

GOALS: Heasman (31), Mendes (46), Stormer (51), Buchele (83).