Lewes FC Ladies 2016-17

[Sweder]

Luton Town Ladies FC 0 Lewes FC Ladies 6
FAWPL Plate Quarter Final
Sunday 18th December 2016

A Rebecca Carter hat-trick in the last fifteen minutes added a sheen to the score-line as Lewes eased through to the semi-finals of the FA WPL Plate.

Playing on a slippery surface surrounded by an open athletics track, the visitors made heavy weather of a first half illuminated by a wonderful strike from Rachel Palmer. Until then Luton proved a match for their higher-ranked opponents, operating two well-drilled banks of four to push Lewes wide and keep the ball out of the danger zone.

Georgia Bridges and Danielle Lane lead the Lewes line, ably supported by Palmer, Paige Walder, Katie McIntyre and the excellent Claire Capon. Capon, making a rare start this season, wore the coveted No 6 jersey. She did her injured captain proud, giving an all-action, 90-minute display that earned her the MvP award.

On fifteen minutes the Luton keeper raced out of her area to reach a through  ball. She handled outside the box and was booked for her troubles. Palmer stepped up to curl a peach of a strike over the wall, over Devoti and into the top corner. 0-1.

Lewes continued to take the game to Luton but the home side stood firm, putting bodies behind the ball and on the line. Tash Wells came close, finishing a good move started by Capon and a clever lay-off by Lane with a dipping shot that beat Devoti and cleared the bar by a foot. HT 0-1.

Lewes used half time to re-set their side. Two minutes after the restart Lane, operating wide right, raced away from her full back to send in a perfect cross for the un-marked Bridges to score from close range. 0-2. 

Luton brought Jenna Moore on for Robinson as the home side fought back into the game. Bridges made a timely interception, racing 20 yards to tackle back as Luton threatened on the left flank.  Joanne Rutherford tried her luck from 25 yards, only to see her effort still rising as it cleared the crossbar. Luton’s revival was soon repelled by McIntyre, leading her midfield with a series of crunching challenges and astute interceptions.

On 65 minutes Devoti made the save of the match. Lane, now at the heart of the Lewes attack, broke inside right and hit a fierce, dipping shot. The Luton keeper dived full stretch, arching her back to tip the ball over the bar. Devoti made another brave stop, this time at the feet of Lane after good build-up from Charlie Carter and Georgia Bridges.

Lewes replaced Bridges and Palmer with Rebecca Carter and Sian Heather on 77 minutes. This effectively ended the contest as fresh Lewes legs left Luton chasing shadows. 2 minutes later Kim Stenning, on for Walder, played in a first-time pass from the left. Rebecca Carter’s well-struck volley hit a defender, spinning past the stranded Devoti. 0-3. 

Luton had barely caught their breath before Carter hit her second, an even more emphatic strike on the turn after good work and a fine pass from Sian Heather. 0-4. Luton were shell-shocked, Lewes rampant. A minute later Carter turned provider, picking out Stenning as she arrived late into the six-yard box to slide home. 0-5. 

There was just time for Carter to complete her hat-trick to end the contest 0-6. 
Even this Solskjaeresque Supersub display wasn’t enough to take MvP from Capon, who ran tirelessly from first whistle to last and set the standard for her team. The score-line is hard on Luton, who worked incredibly hard and created enough to keep the visitors on their toes for over an hour.  

Lewes progress to the semi-finals where they will travel to Leicester City Women on Sunday 5th March. Manager John Donoghue was pleased with the result, if not entirely happy with the time it took for his players to get their passing game going. 

‘I think six-nil flatters us a little. They struggled to cope with Chewie and Sian coming on. Before that I thought we looked rusty. The positives are that we’ve come through the fixture and have a semi-final to look forward to.’

MvP: Claire Capon. Set the standard with an all-action display

Luton Town LFC
Devoti, Carter, Kosky, Robinson, Webster, McKay, Henman, Byron, Soubth, Bellinger, Rutherford
Subs: Moore, Pratt, Tape, Kane

Lewes FC Ladies
Dolbear, West, Carter, McIntyre ©, Waine, Capon, Walder, Wells, Bridges, Lane, Palmer
Subs: Carter (Chewie), Heather, Stenning