Women's football news
London City Lionesses 0-1 Lewes
Lewes made it back-to-back wins on Sunday after winning 1-0 at Princes Park Stadium against London City Lionesses, thanks to a first half penalty from Ellie Leek and some resolute second half defending.
The hosts got the game started but within the first two minutes it was Lewes who were on the attack and won the first corner of the game, but unfortunately it came to nothing.
A minute later and the Lionesses had their first shot at Tatiana Saunders’ goal, but it did not trouble the goalkeeper as it went over the bar.
On nine minutes it looked as though Lewes were set to take the lead. A counter from a London City corner allowed Sophie O’Rourke to play Leek through one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but as she ran through the linesman raised his flag for offside.
Nicola Cousins went close for the Rooks four minutes later, as she rose highest from a free-kick to head just wide of the goal.
Lewes continued to pile on the pressure. On 21 minutes Georgia Timms picked up the ball on the left wing and drove into the box and fired a low cross across the face of goal, but nobody was able to get a touch on it and direct it towards the net.
Only a minute later Timms was looking threatening again when Emily Donovan found her in the box, but the striker’s shot went just wide.
The penalty for Lewes came on 33 minutes, after a handball in the London City area. Leek stepped up to take it and calmly put it into the bottom right corner of the goal to give the Rooks a well-deserved lead.
Lewes had the first chance of the second half as Katie Rood headed just wide from a Leek free-kick.
Saunders was called into action on 54 minutes when she got down low to save the shot and smother the ball before an attacker could take it off her.
Sammy Quayle was then required to make an important block on 61 minutes to deny an effort at goal.
Simon Parker made his first change on 66 minutes when Filippa Savva was replaced by Ellie Noble, as he looked to add fresh legs to a hard-working midfield.
Six minutes later and he made his second with Emma Jones coming on for Timms, who had been pressing high from the first whistle and chasing after every loose ball.
The pressure from London City was relentless as Lewes struggled to get out of their own half, but every player was doing their job and denying the hosts any clear chances at goal.
With one minute of the 90 left, the Lionesses had a free-kick in a dangerous position, but Saunders was there again to make a good save and keep Lewes in the lead.
As the game nearly finished, Parker made a final double substitution, with Donovan and Leek making way for Megan Mackey and Ellie Hack as he looked to seal the victory.
Minutes later, the referee blew his whistle for full-time to confirm Lewes’ second win of the FA Women’s Championship season.
Lewes Starting XI: Saunders, Quayle, Cleverly (C), Cousins, O’Rourke, Lane, Savva (Noble 66), Leek (Mackey 90), Donovan (Hack 90), Timms (Jones 73), Rood
Subs Not Used: Hartley, Boswell, Newman, Griffin, Jhamat
Goal: Leek 33
London City Lionesses Starting XI: Yanez, Bennett, Priest (C), Neville, Murphy, Nolan, Ayisi, Wilson (Rossiter 81), Balfour (Agg 46), Kemppi, Ejupi (Primus 74)
Subs Not Used: Mackie, Thomas, Pursey
Yellow Card: Rossiter 90