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
