Lewes FC Women 2017-18

[Sweder]

Swindon Town LFC 1 Lewes FC Women 3
FA WPL Sunday 19 Nov 2017
Fairford FC


Lewes battled a bobbly pitch and a resilient Swindon side to secure the points and return to second in the FA WPL South. Goals from World Beach Soccer Player of the Year Sarah Kempson, Georgia Bridges and a first 1st XI strike for Lisa Fulgence capped a dominant display at Cinder Lane.

Lewes, initially unchanged from the side that lost narrowly to league-leaders Charlton last Sunday, were forced to give a debut to 17-year-old Jacquie-Anne Goldsmid after keeper Faye Baker failed a late fitness test. 

Within 30 seconds of the start, Avilla Bergin saw her smart chip beat Bagguley only to rebound to safety off the crossbar. A minute later, Lewes had the lead - and how. Kempson, busy, aggressive in the centre, made room to her left before unleashing an unstoppable shot from fully 25 yards that flew into the top corner. Bagguley could simply stand and stare, unable to raise so much as an eyebrow. 0-1

It seemed an ominous start, yet ten minutes in the home side were level. After Bergin had once again gone perilously close, Swindon defended a corner and broke at pace. With her team-mates struggling to get up in support, Colford went for an audacious cross-shot that flew high over Goldsmid and into the top corner. 1-1. 

That goal fuelled Swindon’s belief. Despite an onslaught from the visitors, including two more chances for Bergin and another smack against the crossbar, this time from the excellent Natasha Wells after a one-two with McIntyre, they held parity through to halftime. They might have taken the lead, when Arrell turned Kelly Newton to run in on goal, but for a perfectly-timed interception from Bex Thompson-Agbro. HT 1-1.

The second half saw Lewes dominate possession without finding a clear path through the closed Swindon ranks. Kempson, Bergin, Lane and McIntyre all saw efforts blocked or saved. Just shy of the hour, Lewes cut through. Kempson wriggled through on the inside left to fire in a powerful low shot. Bagguley did well to parry, but Bridges reacted first, volleying from the horizontal, three feet off the ground, back past the stranded keeper. 1-2.

Still Lewes pressed, keen to secure the points. Kelly Newton, inspired by Bridges’ acrobatics, almost converted a scissored overhead, striking the outside of the upright from a McIntyre corner. When Swindon did get away, invariably down their right through Colford and Mugford, they found Thompson-Agbro in sublime form, purring across the backline to sweep up. Yet again Katie McIntyre, aided and abetted by Newton, controlled the game from midfield. Leeta Rutherford joined them, pushing up from deep to intercept the long ball and restart attacks. 

Lisa Fulgence replaced Bridges and very nearly conjured a goal with her first intervention, turning her marker to set up Wells who fired inches wide. Swindon introduced Diaz-Butcher for the hard-working Roberts. Moments later Fulgence opened her Lewes account and closed out the game with a delicious lob that had Bagguley back-peddling, unable to keep the ball out. 1-3.

Fulgence came close again moments later, trying a cheeky back-heel after a trademark Dani Lane drive to the byline had unlocked the Swindon defence. Lewes replaced Newton and Lane with Owen and Palmer to see the game out. FT 1-3

After the match I spoke to Manager John Donoghue and scorer Georgia Bridges

’Swindon defended much deeper than they did at our place (where Lewes ran out 7-0 winners) so we struggled to get in behind. The pitch made it difficult to pass the ball as we’d have liked but we worked hard and I think we scored three good goals today.’

Bridges, once again weighing in with an important goal for her side, confirmed the surface was tricky. ‘It’s the same for both sides of course, but the ball bobbled all over the place. It was tough to control at close quarters. It made some of our passes and crosses look bad.’

Swindon worked hard to restrict Lewes, though were unable to prevent the visitors dominating possession. Bagguley, Roberts and Colford stood out in a team that defended bravely and effectively as a unit. For Lewes, McIntyre, Rutherford, Johnson, Bergin and Thompson-Agbro were on top form. Goldsmid impressed on debut and Fulgence showed why she has such a fine goal-scoring record. Sarah Kempson, involved and combative throughout, was awarded MvP by the travelling fans. Her second minute wonder-strike was worth the journey alone.

   

[Sweder]

Lewes Hit Five To Reach Quarter Finals
Clinical finishing sees Rookettes past Pompey in League Cup
 
Lewes FC Women 5 Portsmouth FC Ladies 1
FA WPL Cup, Sunday 14th January 2018
Attendance: 196
 
Lewes showed a ruthless streak to despatch Portsmouth and march into the quarter-finals of the FA WPL Cup. 
Goals from Katie McIntyre, Sarah Kempson, Vicky Carleton and Georgia Bridges capped a dominant display at the Dripping Pan. Both sides endured long away trips in the FA Cup last week, but it was Lewes, buoyed by their tough 2-1 away win at Huddersfield, who made the brighter start.
 
With McIntyre, Kempson and Leeta Rutherford running midfield, the visitors found themselves under increasing pressure in the early stages, Dani Lane and Rebecca Carter causing the Pompey back line all sorts of trouble. Portsmouth Captain Nadine Bazan, supported by Ellie Kirby and Eilidh Curry, kept the hosts at arms length, ‘keeper Robyn Levett dealing comfortably with a series of early long range efforts.
 
In the 19th minute Lewes broke through. Lane’s cross was cleared to Kempson on the left. She cut inside and shot low across the 6-yard box. Currie, rushing back, stuck out a leg, her deflection leaving Levett stranded as the ball rolled home. 1-0.
 
Portsmouth boss Jay Sadler reacted, bringing on Daisy McLachlan for Carla Perkins, but it was Lewes who seemed to find another gear, Avilla Bergin and Carleton joining the play. Carlton it was ten minutes later who found Kempson with a throw-in, wide left. She back-heeled the ball to Wells whose smart cross was flicked on acrobatically by the leaping Carter, for McIntyre to finish from 4 yards. 2-0.
 
Within a minute Lewes made it three. This time Kempson, well found by Bergin on the right, left the crowd in no doubt as to the scorer, smashing a low drive from 25 yards that beat Levett inside her near post. 3-0.
 
Portsmouth rallied in the final minutes of the half. Jacquie Ann Goldsmid, making her Dripping Pan debut in goal, was forced to make a brilliant double save from on the stroke of half-time as Tash Stephens and McLachlan tried to force the ball home from close range. HT 3-0.
 
Bex Thompson Agbro started the second half in place of another Dripping Pan debutant, Kylie McCarthy, who appeared to slot effortlessly into defence.
 
Goldsmid was called into action early on, tipping over spectacularly from Sammy Quayle’s sharp, twisting header from 8 yards. Portsmouth’s bright start was rewarded with a sublime goal on 57 minutes. Katie James, far more involved after the break, linked with McLachlan to play in a cross that opened up the Lewes defence. Rachel Panting still had plenty of work to do, side-stepping Tash Wells before hammering her left-foot finish past Goldsmid. 3-1.
 
Sixty seconds later the Pompey revival was over. From the restart, Rutherford, purring in midfield all afternoon, sent a lofted pass in for Carleton to chase. She looked for Carter to her right but Currie intercepted, sending the ball back to Carleton who’s sweet left-foot volley flew into the top left corner from 16 yards. 4-1.
 
Portsmouth were undoubtedly playing better than they had in the first half , but Lewes were in their stride. Donoghue replaced Lane with Claire Johnson. Carleton had a chance to double her tally when Levett’s poor clearance found her in space. She opted to lob the keeper and was a whisker away, the ball landing on the roof of the net.
 
Georgia Bridges replaced the excellent Carter on 73 minutes. Bridges, clearly chomping at the bit, was straight into the action, released by Carleton after good work from McIntyre and Kempson. She ran straight at the retreating defenders before unleashing a thunderous effort that fizzed inches over Levett’s crossbar.
 
With ten minutes to go Carleton, having a storming second half, crossed for McIntyre, who hooked the ball over Levett only to see Kirby, on the line, head clear. Bridges fired low from the right, Levett dropping on the ball at her near post. Three minutes later Bridges had her goal and Lewes their 5th.
 
Wells launched a long throw down the left. Bridges flicked on, ran on to beat four defenders, including the on-rushing Bazan, to smash home from the edge of the box. Bazan, brave in the challenge, needed treatment and was replaced by Lauren Peck. FT 5-1.
 
Lewes manager John Donoghue praised his players for their blistering start.
 
‘We showed a lot of energy, a lot of forward momentum. We’d asked the players to start quickly and they did that. We tried to utilize the big pitch, to move the ball into wide areas, to move the ball on a lot faster. To tried to be more aggressive with our defending from the front, in terms of getting to the ball right away.’
 
I asked Vicky Carleton about her goal celebration, where she ran towards the Lewes bench, pointing at someone in particular.
 
‘I’d felt a bit lost in the first half and wanted to be more involved. I was a lot more relaxed because Adam (Wolecki) talked to me at half time, which helped a lot. I enjoyed the second half a lot more. I was so happy to score and get the win!’
 
Lewes advance to the quarter finals of the League Cup, ties to be confirmed this week, and into round 4 of the SSE Women’s FA Cup (away to Keynsham on 4th February). Their next competitive match will be the Sussex County FA Challenge Cup semi-final, hosted by Brighton & Hove Albion Women’s Development Squad, on the Rookery 3G (behind the Dripping Pan) on the evening of Tuesday 24th January, kick off 8pm.
 
Attendance: 196
MvP: Victoria Carleton 

   

[Sweder]

LEWES BEAT BRIGHTON TO REACH SUSSEX CUP FINAL
 
BHAFC Women Development Squad 1
Lewes FC Women 4
 
Sussex County FA Challenge Cup semi-final
The Rookery 3G, Lewes
 
Lewes FC Women reached the Sussex County FA Challenge Cup final after an entertaining match ‘away’ to a Brighton Development Squad side.

Charlotte Owen, returning from injury to face her former club, scored the only goal of a first half that saw Lewes dominate possession. Leeta Rutherford and Katie McIntyre’s composed build-up play helped the away side establish a firm grip on the game from the start. Brighton had in-form ‘keeper Laura Hartley to thank for a number of sharp saves, alongside some strong and committed defensive work.

In front of a good-sized crowd, with Brighton first team coach Hope Powell watching on, Albion showed good discipline to keep the FAWPL side out for much of the first 45 minutes, Owen's precise finish breaking the deadlock in the 17th minute.

Lewes, through lively strike partners Rebecca Carter and Georgia Bridges, created a host of chances. Avilla Bergin fired past the post from the left. Bridges raced past her full-back to send in a fine cross from the right, Danni Lane’s bullet header whistling inches wide. Hartley saved well from Carter and Bergin and took a long-range Owen effort comfortably. HT 0-1.

With rolling subs an option, Lewes used their bench to good effect. Amy Taylor, another returning from injury, and Tash Wells replaced Bridges and Bex Thompson after the break.

Skipper Katie McIntyre fired just over, her fine strike fizzing past Hartley from 20 yards. Brighton countered and Jacqui Ann Goldsmid needed to be on her toes to save well, low to her left. Taylor, offering the Brighton defenders a different challenge, lurked on the edge of the box, chasing down loose passes and causing Hartley to race out bravely on several occasions.

On the hour Bridges returned for Carter. Within five minutes Lewes were two up. A whipped cross from the right was met by an on-rushing group of Taylor, Bridges and the Brighton centre-backs. Bridges made contact first, the ball ricocheting cruelly off a defender’s knee to wrong-foot Hartley. One for the dubious goals panel, but Bridges will claim it.

Danni Lane returned for the excellent Char Owen. Sarah Kempson, busy all night, scored direct from a corner kick but the referee spotted an infringement in Albion’s favour.

Brighton responded well. At the back, Lellanni Nesbeth shone, using her strength to hold off Bergin, Bridges and Taylor, each time seeing the ball safely over the goal-line. Lewes relaxed and Brighton took advantage of some sloppy defending with a fine low finish driven in from the left. Lewes heeded the wake-up call, this time Bridges making certain with a well-struck finish after Bergin collided with Hartley.

Bergin came off worse in that exchange and was forced to leave the field, Owen coming on for the last five minutes. Bridges created the final goal, tearing onto a fine through ball. Hartley had to come out and received a yellow card after up-ending the Lewes striker. Sarah Kempson stepped up to make no mistake from the penalty spot. FT 1-4.

Lewes advance to the Challenge Cup final, scheduled for Thursday 22nd March, when they will face either Eastbourne Ladies or Crawley Wasps.

Albion: Hartley, Russell, Woods, Bacon, Clarke, Pharoah, Tubby, Nesbeth, Mason, Taylor, Carter
Subs: Kincaid, Shioui, Wilson

Lewes: Goldsmid, Johnson, Rutherford, Thompson-Agbro, Lane, McIntyre, Kempson, Bergin, Owen, Bridges, Carter
Subs: Baker, Wells, James, Taylor