Women's football news
Written by: Shrey
The Rooks secured their place in the final of the Sussex Women’s Challenge Cup for the second year in a row with an emphatic 8-2 victory over Eastbourne Borough.
The result continues Lewes’ outstanding recent home form. The Rooks have now won their last five home games, scoring a remarkable 32 goals while conceding just three.
Lewes started brightly, with recent signing goalkeeper Eva-Jean Young making her first start for the club. It didn’t take long for the hosts to find the breakthrough. Captain Maddie Brant chased down a long ball from Ylenia Priest, forcing confusion between the Eastbourne defender and goalkeeper. Brant pounced on the loose ball, rounded the keeper and calmly finished into the empty net.
The Rooks doubled their lead in the ninth minute thanks to excellent pressing from Leah Lane, who won the ball high up the pitch. The ball ricocheted towards the Eastbourne backline where Chelsea Ferguson showed striker’s instinct, battling to regain possession before finishing confidently with her left foot.
Just eight minutes later, Ferguson grabbed her second to make it 3-0. It was a classic Lewes move as Layla Banaras threaded a superb through ball to Lane, who burst past her defender down the right wing. Her shot was saved, but the rebound fell perfectly for Ferguson, who calmly slotted home the half-volley.
Lewes remained firmly on top for much of the first half, with Young rarely tested in the Lewes goal. At the other end, Eastbourne goalkeeper Sophia Moule was kept busy but produced several good saves to keep the scoreline from widening further.
The fourth arrived in the 37th minute. Katie Gilligan picked up the ball near the centre circle and played a perfectly weighted through pass to Kayla Ginger, who raced onto it, took a composed touch and fired a left-footed strike past the keeper.
It looked smooth sailing heading into the break, but against the run of play Eastbourne pulled one back from a corner. The delivery caused confusion in the Lewes box and, after taking a couple of deflections off defenders, the ball found its way into the net.
Half time – Lewes 4-1 Eastbourne Borough.
The second half began with changes for the hosts as experienced duo Hannah Godfrey and Lois Roche entered the game.
Lewes continued where they left off, immediately pushing for more goals. Moule produced two outstanding saves to deny Ferguson her hat-trick and Lois Roche a goal, but the pressure eventually told.
Roche restored Lewes’ momentum in the 53rd minute. After the Rooks won a free kick just outside the box, Roche stepped up and curled a precise effort past the wall and into the net.
Two minutes later Lewes struck again. Roche delivered a long ball over the top which Brant chased down before driving into the box and squaring across goal for Gilligan, who timed her run perfectly to tap home and make it six.
Eastbourne responded with a spell of pressure, forcing several strong defensive actions from Dan Rowe and Godfrey at the back. Young was also called into action with a number of confident saves and clearances.
The visitors were rewarded in the 63rd minute after a rare miscommunication at the back allowed Emily Hills to collect the ball and finish.
At 6-2, Lewes regained control and pushed forward again in the closing stages.
The seventh goal arrived in the 79th minute when Brant won possession in midfield and slid a perfectly weighted through ball into the path of Lane, who finished calmly past the keeper. It capped a strong performance from the captain, adding a second assist to her tally.
The final goal of the afternoon came in the 89th minute. Banaras played a ball out wide to Lane, who made another powerful run before delivering a delicate cross into the box. Roche was there to finish and secure her second goal of the game.
It was a dominant performance from The Rooks, who now advance to the final where they will face Saltdean United, who defeated their semi-final opponents 7-0.
Lewes will look to defend their title on 15 April in Lancing, at the home of Sussex FA, against the Tigers.
Player of the Match:
Captain Maddie Brant – one goal, two assists, and a commanding all-round display.
Lewes: 33 Young, 3 Brant ©, 4 Schreimaier, 5 Banaras, 9 Ferguson, 11 Seaby, 13 Trewhitt, 14 Howells, 23 Priest. 24 Edwards, 77 Lane
Subs – 6 Godfrey, 7 Ginger, 15 Rowe, 18 Roche, 21 Gilligan
Eastbourne Borough: 1 Moule, 4 Larkin, 5 Beck, 6 Starkey, 7 Tucker, 8 Cram, 11 Simmons, 12 Hill, 18 Taylor, 19 Langridge, 22 Creese
Subs – 9 Payne, 15 Griffiths, 17 Jessop, 20 Hills, 21 Ray
Note – Rolling subs were used during the game.