Paul Donegan

Crystal Palace had the first chance when Bianca Baptiste run through but Lewes goalkeeper Tatiana Saunders rushed out to block with her legs with the rebound falling to Siobhan Wilson who sent a chipped effort towards goal which was headed clear.

In the 7th minute, Lewes had their first chance when a lovely cross field ball found Paula Howells and her low cross was just put behind by Palace’s Aimee Everett.

Palace hit the post in the 14th minute when Baptiste chipped the goalkeeper but saw her effort come back off the woodwork and go behind.

Lewes then created a number of opportunities with Amelia Hazard being unable to get her head on Howells cross and Georgia Timms having a shot blocked and the rebound being put well over by Izzy Dalton. Dalton went closer in the 20th minute when she sent an effort towards goal from halfway inside the half that just went wide.

Wilson saw her shot from an angle held by the Lewes goalie in the 21st minute as both sides continued to look for the first goal.

Two minutes later, Lucy Porter hit the post for Lewes but the assistant already had her flag up for
offside. Lewes then had another chance minutes later when Ellie Mason saw her header go just wide via a slight touch off a Palace defender.

Palace had the next attempt when Coral Haines saw her shot from just inside the area deflected narrowly wide. Palace had a few more half chances before the break as well as having Charley Clifford and Wilson booked late in the half. Somehow, it was 0-0 at half time.

Lewes started the second half on the front foot with Timms having her low shot saved by Emily Orman in the 47th minute.

Two minutes later they took the lead when Lucy Porter took a lovely touch to control the ball just outside the area and put the ball into the corner of the net with the outside of her boot.

Lewes continued to press with Timms seeing an effort from a corner deflected into Orman’s hands in the 52nd minute. Lucy Ashworth-Clifford put in a dangerous cross that no one could get on the end of and Howells put a shot from distance wide as they dominated the early stages of the second half. Lewes did score a second in the 57th minute when a Howells cross was only cleared as far as Izzy
Dalton whose low shot found the back of the net from about 12 yards out.

Lewes went looking for a third with Ellie Hack heading wide and Ashworth-Clifford and Howells both shooting well over.

Palace were reduced to 10 players in the 70th minute when Siobhan Wilson received a second yellow
card after committing a late foul. They actually had their first chance of the second half after that when Baptiste sent a shot over from outside the area.

In the 81st minute, it was Lewes who had the next opportunity when Porter’s cross went right across the penalty area to Rebecca McKenna who shot just wide. Both Ashworth-Clifford and Dalton saw shots blocked in quick succession in the 8 rd minute. As the match reached the 90 minute mark, they broke quickly and Heidi Logan hit the post with the ball bouncing away.

Some good defending by Lewes restricted Palace to half chances at best in the latter stages of the game. Freda Ayisi had two attempts in added time for Lewes when she had a shot saved and then saw an effort deflected onto the crossbar.

An impressive second half from Lewes saw them take the three points and continue their fairly good home form this season.


Teams

Lewes: Saunders, McKenna, Hack, Mason, O’Rourke, Hazard (Cross 78’), Dalton, Ashworth-Clifford (Longhurst 89’), Howells (Logan 78’), Porter (Ayisi 84’), Timms (Noble 84’)

Unused Substitutes: Salgado, Cousins, Cordier, Hartley

Goals – Porter 49’, Dalton 57’

Crystal Palace:

Orman, Johnson, Waldie, Pearse, Clifford (Barton 60’), Everett, McLean (Sibley 84’), Haines (Hennessy 84’), Wilson, Baptiste, Farrow (Sharpe 60’)

Unused Substitute: Smith

Booked – Clifford, Wilson

Sent Off – Wilson 70’ (Second booking)

Referee – Jack Packman
Attendance - 465