Women's football news
Written by: Joe
Lewes FC Women exited the WNL Cup on Sunday after a tight 1-0 defeat to Watford at the Dripping Pan.
Clarabella Hall’s bundled goal midway through the second half split the teams.
Paula Howells hit the crossbar and had a shot blocked off the line in the first half, while Layla Proctor diverted a header narrowly wide of goal just minutes before Watford’s opener.
Lewes sent goalkeeper Emily Moore up for two remaining set pieces in stoppage time as they sought a leveller but it wasn’t to be.
Lewes headed into the game having lost to Hashtag United in midweek and were it not for a commanding header from Izzy Glass-Oliver the hosts may have been a goal down within the opening two minutes.
The Rooks quickly settled, though, and Howells almost opened the scoring when pinching the ball in the Watford third and going for goal from 35 yards out. She had goalkeeper Jacqui Goldsmid beaten but the ball cannoned off the crossbar.
Poppy Derhun and Mia Adaway also went close for the hosts, while at the other end quick thinking from Player of the Match Maddie Brant saw her scramble a Watford effort off the line.
Howells’ second chance came of 34 minutes. Indecision at the back game Howells the impetus to rob goalkeeper Goldsmid of the ball. She cut back from the byline and shot, only for her effort to hit a Watford leg. Her follow-up spun wide of goal.
Still the Rooks kept coming. Sammy Quayle had one shot blocked and another fall agonisingly wide either side of half time, before Adaway tested Goldsmid with a long-range effort.
Boss Nat Lawrence then wrung the changes. First Adekite Fatuga-Dada replaced Adaway, before Proctor and Derhun were withdrawn for Che Thomas and Katie Gilligan.
Fatuga-Dada was straight into the action, linking up with Howells to whip in a dangerous cross that found Proctor at the far post, but the midfielder couldn’t steer her header goal wards.
It was Proctor’s final touch of a strong game in the centre of midfield. A few minutes later and Watford took the lead. Moore was on hand to stop the first shot as it came in from a corner but, in the resulting scramble, Brant cleared the ball onto Hall’s leg and it spun over the line.
Lewes sought a leveller but to no avail. Watford repelled a string of set pieces, while Lois Roche hit the wall with a well-positioned free-kick as the clock ticked past 90 minutes.
Next up for the Rooks is Sunday’s home clash with Plymouth Argyle at the Dripping Pan (2pm). Tickets are available at a discount when you buy online.
Meanwhile, Lewes FC Men take on Three Bridges in the Sussex Senior Cup on Tuesday (7:45pm – buy tickets here) and host Bracknell Town in the FA Trophy on Saturday (3pm – buy tickets here).