Women's football news
Written by: Joe
Leah Lane’s first goal for Lewes and a close-range finish from Katie Gilligan helped the Rooks to a 2-2 draw against high-flying Hashtag United on Wednesday – but it could have been all three points, reports Christopher Coleman
Lane opened the scoring with a curled finish into the top corner after a sublime assist from player of the match Paula Howells midway through the first half.
Hashtag equalised after the break when a deflected shot fell at the feet of Sammy Rowland, who ricocheted the ball into the net.
Lewes then took the lead again in the 84th minute when substitute Katie Gilligan diverted the ball in from close range after a save from Hashtag goalkeeper – and former Rook – Frankie Angel.
But the away side levelled again in the 90th minute through Malika Apindia’s finish from a free kick.
The result sees Lewes remain in seventh place in the FA WNL South, level on points with AFC Wimbledon after their game against Watford was postponed.
The Rooks came into the game off the back of a hard-fought draw against second placed Ipswich Town, whereas top-of-the-table Hashtag United beat AFC Wimbledon 3-0 on Sunday to extend their lead at the top to five points.
The Rooks make one change from that game at Ipswich, with Sarah Harvey coming in for Izzy Glass-Oliver. Hashtag also only showed one change, with Georgia Griffin coming in for ex-Lewes forward Freda Ayisi.
Olivia Carpenter had the first chance of the game for Lewes, but her long range drive only found Angel.
The opener came in the 23rd minute, when Lane found space and curled the ball into the top right corner from outside the box, after a great turn and pass by Howells in the centre circle.
Both sides exchanged chances for the remainder of the first half, but the Rooks’ great defensive discipline kept the scoreline unchanged. Emily Moore didn’t have a lot to deal with before the break, with a deflected cross being her biggest worry.
Howells capitalised on a loose ball on 37 minutes and looked to shoot, but her lob from a tight angle wasn’t able to find the net.
Lewes earned a free kick in a threatening position early in the second half, which Carpenter tried to power into the left side of the net, but the shot curled past the post.
Hashtag’s Rowland, meanwhile, also fired a shot past Moore’s right post.
Hashtag’s table topping form eventually showed on 73 minutes, when Rowland tapped in from close range after a shot deflected her way. The visitors almost had a second five minutes later, but Apindia’s shot found the arms of Moore.
The game began to swing back and forth in the final 10 minutes and Lewes found themselves back in front when substitute Gilligan capitalised on a saved shot, scrambling the rebound in from inside the six yard box.
Then came the siege, as some great defensive work kept the Rooks in front. A good save from Moore was well shepherded out by Sarah Harvey as the clock ticked down.
But Hashtag fought back again when a free kick was diverted into the net by Apindia in the first minute of added time – an agonising goal to concede after such a battling display.
The Rooks’ next game is a home tie in the Sussex Women’s Challenge Cup against Saltdean on Sunday. After that, Nat Lawrence and co. face fifth placed Oxford in the league the following Sunday, as they try and build on two great results against the league’s current frontrunners.
Lewes: Moore, Brant, Schreimaier, Godfrey, Proctor, Carpenter, Howells, Connolly-Brame, Harvey, Roche, Lane
Subs: Hunkin, Glass-Oliver, Ginger, Eze, Gilligan, Bacon
Words: Christopher Coleman