Women's football news
Written by: Joe
Lewes returned to the Dripping Pan on Sunday for their first FA Women’s National League South home game of the season against Exeter and, while the fans dazzled in the stands, sadly the 4-0 result didn’t go the Rooks’ way.
Exeter led within five minutes when, slightly against the run of play, Sarah Stacey headed a deep corner in from close range.
Lewes could have responded almost immediately when Adekite Fatuga-Dada was played through on goal but Abbi Bond parried the shot away.
After that came a period of Exeter pressure. First Beth Ireland hit the post, before Sophie Gillies was upended in the box to earn a penalty. Stacey duly finished.
And it was 3-0 to the visitors by the half-hour mark when Gillies tapped in after a break from midfield.
Lewes regrouped at half time and came out fighting after the break but struggled to gain momentum in the game. After Moore denied Amber Pollock, Lewes had two opinions at the other end to get into the game.
First Muna Era flicked on a corner at the near post, only for an Exeter defender to clear the effort, before Che Thomas delivered a tantalising free-kick from the right that evaded everyone to swing out of play.
It was somewhat against the run of play, then, that Exeter grabbed their fourth. Moore got strong hands of Ishbel Zuurmond’s initial shot but the ball fell kindly to Bow Jackson, who tapped home.
Despite the goal Lewes continued to plug away. Fatuga-Dada found Olivia Carpenter in space on the edge of the box but her curling effort fell into Bond’s hands.
Maddie Brant fired over on the left edge of the box after pushing up from full-back, before Layla Proctor clipped the stump of the post 13 minutes from time.
And, in the final two minutes, Eze fired a rocket at goal only for it to be tipped onto the crossbar.
Proctor and Eze’s misfortune summed up the day for Lewes – a steady performance without the slice of luck required to stay in the game. As for the 616 supporters, the party continued after full time despite the result, with a staff catwalk and get-together in the bar to celebrate the start of the season.
You might have spotted fans dressed up in ballgowns, suits, tuxedos, and everything in between on Sunday. The footBALL was launched to celebrate the new season and welcome our sponsors Who Gives A Crap to the Dripping Pan in style.
And what’s more, the Women are back as early as Wednesday when we face Worthing in the FA WNL Cup at 7:45pm. Will we see you there?