Women's football news
Written by: Joe
Sammy Quayle’s first goal for Lewes FC and some quick thinking from Paula Howells earned the Rooks a deserved 2-0 win over Plymouth Argyle on Sunday.
Quayle was rewarded for charging down Plymouth goalkeeper Lily Felgate nine minutes in and forcing the ball into the back of the net.
Howells then secured the three points midway through the second half when pouncing on a stray Plymouth pass at the back to tap home.
Emily Moore had little to do between the sticks as Lewes secured a clean sheet to move up to seventh in the FA WNL South.
Lewes headed into the encounter having narrowly lost to Watford in the WNL Cup last weekend. The game was being sponsored by Harvey’s Brewery to celebrate sustainability at the Dripping Pan, following the successful launch of our new Lewes FC x Harvey’s reusable cups.
There were plenty of red and black cups dotted around the ground as Lewes sought an early opener, with Olivia Carpenter going close from a sixth-minute corner.
But the Rooks fans in the Philcox Stand wouldn’t have to wait long to celebrate. Quayle, leading the line, refused to give up when chasing a Moore punt towards the Plymouth goal. Felgate came out to clear it but Quayle was too quick for her and blocked the clearance, with the ball rebounding back into the net.
It was a stroke of good fortune that the Rooks have missed somewhat this season, and it almost got even better for the hosts when Howells delivered a mean-looking ball into the box on 28 minutes, only for it to miss everyone to dribble out.
Maddie Brant – our Player of the Match last weekend – was one stray Plymouth leg away from doubling Lewes’ lead on the half-hour mark, while Moore did well to tip Lulu Jarvis’ long-range effort over the bar.
Lewes started the second half on the front foot, with Quayle almost breaking through from kick off. Four minutes later and she was through on goal, having latched onto a stray Plymouth pass, but was denied by a late tackle after rounding the goalkeeper.
Lewes’ press was working, though, and more chances came their way shortly after. Howells and Carpenter set Layla Proctor up for a sniff at goal but her effort flew wide of the mark. A quick counter from Lucy Connolly-Brame then fed Howells free but she couldn’t hit the target either.
The Rooks were on the hunt for a second goal and it finally came on 65 minutes thanks to dogged work from the forward line. Plymouth took a short goal kick as Quayle and Howells trotted away from the area following an unsuccessful attack. But Howells suddenly turned and snatched the ball off the defence, and slid home before Felgate could react.
The goal settled Lewes down as they saw off the rest of the match without much threat coming their way. Adekite Fatuga-Dada replaced Carpenter and almost made a quick impact when beating her marker to cut a ball back to Louis Roche, but her shot sailed high into the stands.
Howells then got a standing ovation when she was replaced by Poppy Derhun, as the Rooks wound down the clock to secure three points.
Next up for Lewes is a trip to Billericay Town on Sunday 13 October. Our next home game is on Sunday 27 October at home to Cheltenham Town. Tickets are on sale at an online discount compared to when you buy on the gate.
Lewes XI: Moore, Brant, Schreimaier, Godfrey, Proctor, Carpenter, Howells, Connolly-Brame, Harvey, Quayle, Roche.
Subs: Hunkin, Glass-Oliver, Thomas, Eze, Fatuga-Dada, Derhun, Gilligan.