Women's football news
Written by: Joe
Bristol City 5-0 Lewes FC | by Tai Kolade
The Rooks were under no illusion about the difficult predicament they found themselves in as a squad of only 14 made the trip to the Robins High Performance Centre to face Bristol City in the Women’s FA Cup, due to precautionary measures related to COVID-19.
Despite the depleted squad, The Rooks put up a valiant effort to restrict Bristol City, stifling their creativity in midfield, defending bravely and making key interceptions when needed.
Up top, Ini Umotong and Freda Ayisi kept the City defence fearful at all times but it was the hosts who eventually ran out 5-0 winners.
Neither team could get on top in the opening stages. Lewes had the first chance of the game when a dangerous in-swinging corner from Lara Miller had to be clawed out from under the bar by City Keeper Fran Bentley.
Later in the half, Ayisi played a lovely one-two with Miller before she spun the defender and fired a shot from 25 yards that had Bentley worried but skewed past the post.
Goalkeeper Shanell Salgado made a number of good saves before she was eventually beaten by Abi Harrison, who had cut in on the right of the box and put the ball in the top corner, in the 29th minute.
City substitute Aggie Beever-Jones managed to lob Salgado from an acute angle early in the second half, before Harrison got her second of the game, which Salgado sadly couldn’t get a strong enough hand on to keep out. Chloe Bull bundled in their fourth before Ffion Morgan scored directly from a corner.
As we should expect though, Lewes never gave up.
Zoë Cross created a great opportunity for herself when she ran at goal, dipping a shoulder one way, then the other, causing her opposition defender all types of confusion before hitting a curled shot with her left that tried to sneak into the near post, only for Bentley to save.
Ayisi had a similar chance to Cross, feinting either way before firing a shot which Bentley could only watch bounce past her before it cannoned back off the post. Umotong then drew a fantastic save from the keeper too when she beat a defender before unleashing an arrowed effort across goal that went for a corner after the save.
A hard day at the office for the Rooks in difficult circumstances. The match finished with Laura Hartley playing outfield after Kallie Balfour sustained injury late in the game. Thoughts go out to her and we wish her a speedy recovery.
Lewes vs Reading on Wednesday
Next up for Lewes is Wednesday’s Conti Cup clash with Reading at the Dripping Pan. The game kicks off at 7:30pm on 15 December, and will be a festive special!
Mulled wine and mince pies will be the order of the day, while the fabulous Rock Choir will provide the festive vocals! Charley Boswell will also be popping back from retirement to say farewell to fans.
You can buy tickets on the door or get money off when you buy Lewes FC tickets online today!
Lewes XI: Salgado, Cousins, Hack, McKenna, Plumb, Miller, Cross, Ayisi, Logan, Howells, Umotong,
Subs: Hutson (Plumb 85’) Balfour (Howells 88’) Hartley (90’+)