Women's football news
Written by: Joe
Lewes FC Women rounded off their season with penalty heroics and a trophy as they beat Brighton Academy in the Sussex Challenge Cup final on Tuesday in front of almost 600 fans.
Maddie Brant converted Lewes’ fourth successful penalty before Brighton captain Jess Pegram missed the target to trigger jubilant scenes at Lancing.
Lewes could have won it in normal time but Katie Gilligan and Kayla Ginger both hit the crossbar, while Olivia Carpenter had a goal ruled out for offside.
Nat Lawrence’s side were certainly the more dominant but they couldn’t force a way through the Brighton defence, with penalties required to eventually crown the Rooks Champions of Sussex.
Lewes had just a day to prepare for the final after beating MK Dons 7-0 in the last FA Women’s National League South game of the season on Sunday.
Lawrence named an unchanged starting XI, with Sunday’s hat-trick hero Paula Howells starting alongside the Rooks’ joint-top scorer for the season Carpenter.
Brighton came out the blocks fast and Lewes were forced to defend deep in the opening throes – but steadily the Rooks worked their way into the game. Lois Roche tested Seagulls goalkeeper Lily Murray with a header eight minutes in, while Layla Proctor did well to deny Clarabella Hall a clear sight at goal at the other end.
Carpenter thought she had given the Rooks the lead 28 minutes in when finishing a lovely pass from Howells, only for the offside flag to go up against Lewes’ No. 14.
Still, it was a sign of Lewes’ growing dominance as they sought an opener before the break. Pushing with a high press, Carpenter first forced a low save from Murray, before Howells caught the keeper napping to go for a spectacular lob, only for Pegram to clear off the line. Howells and Roche also went close before the whistle.
The second half was a much more even affair, although Lewes still boasted the wealth of the chances. Roche headed over a dangerous free kick, while Lane rounded the goalkeeper on 70 minutes, only for Rhianna Fowler to block the eventual shot.
Lewes pressed hard in the final stages and saw their best chance go begging with 13 minutes remaining. Gilligan somehow managed to squeeze a shot in from the edge of the area that had Murray – but not the crossbar – beaten. The ball pinged out to Ginger but rattled the bar again, before Brighton cleared.
Murray then denied both Ginger and Carpenter in the dying stages of the match, while Moore was called upon to provide calm at the other end as Brighton sought a late, late winner.
As the game went to penalties, Lewes’ faithful support – a few faces of which have been spotted at Plymouth, Gwalia and Exeter this season – uprooted from behind one goal to hurry over to the other.
Howells, Carpenter, Ginger and Brant all scored their spot kicks, while two Brighton efforts sailed beyond Moore’s goal.
We’d like to thank the couple of hundred Lewes fans and Lewes Juniors teams who made the journey to Lancing on a work/school night to support the players one last time this season.
We are Champions of Sussex!
Photos: James Boyes