A highly entertaining game saw the Rooks Ladies come through a tricky tie against a well organized University of Portsmouth side this afternoon.

Once again the Rooks had to break down a defensively stubborn side in their South West Combination opponents. Life was made difficult as the Rooks were slow out the blocks and for a while they couldn’t get into their normal high tempo style for some reason. The Lewes bench trying their best to lift them and get them to play to their level.

On a couple of occasion the Rooks came close and centre forward Spice should have made it one nil when she hit a shot straight into the Keepers arms from 6 feet out. The play was very tight as Lewes tried to break down the Uni’s five across the middle but just couldn’t find a way through.

Their usual patient ,passing game was missing in large parts and the half time whistle couldn’t come quicker enough for Rooks Manager Jacquie Agnew.

The second half saw the Rooks raise the tempo and on 50 minutes Tammy Waine found the top left hand corner with a wonderful shot just outside the box. The Rooks continued to press for a second and Veiga went close on a number of occasions down the left hand side.

Pompey’s short, short, long ball tested both Stacy Baker and Lel Smith but both played intelligently and timed their interceptions well. Baker just edging Smith out for Player of the Match.

Agnew made her first substitution on 56 minutes and bought Arrowsmith on for Spice and she quickly got into the action going close a few times. Hinshelwood replaced York on 64 minutes to try and get more joy down the right hand side and the third and final substitute saw youngster Nicole Webley come on for Tammy Waine on 86 minutes.

Gardiner was then pushed into the middle and Lewes should have seen this game out, however a quick counter attack in the 91 minute saw Pompey make the most of a four pass movement before slotting the ball in for an equalizer. The Rooks looked a bit shell shocked as the whistle blew on 90 minutes.

Captain Kelly Newton marshaled her Team together in the turn around and asked everyone to step up another gear going into extra time. She was not disappointed and on the 107 minute Holly Grogan was able to squeeze the ball home after a lay off from Arrowsmith just outside the 6 yard box for goal number two.

The Rooks started to really press to try and finally put this match to bed and 7 minutes later it came when Arrowsmith was able to turn their centre half before rounding the Keeper to slot a superb goal for number 3.

The last kick of the game ended with a goal when Veiga hit a low shot from the edge of the box which trickled into the net and beyond their Keeper. 

Head of Development Dave Cole commented ‘ this was a really good test for us today and one we came through, we should have put the game to bed in normal time but hey that’s cup football.'

'I said to the players going into extra time that the Team who wanted it more would win and they did. The support today was brilliant and the players really do appreciate the crowd, I believe we had 104 and they made a big difference’.

The Rooks are away to local side Seahaven in the Sussex Women’s Challenge Cup at Seaford FC Sunday KO 1pm.