LARKIN'S STELLAR STRIKE SEALS WIN FOR LEWES
Rookettes Take The Points After Close Encounter
FAWPL South, Uxbridge FC
Sunday 19th February
A superb Kellie Larkin free kick 14 minutes from time secured Lewes all three points after a close-fought encounter with QPR.
Danielle Lane's brave header opened the scoring for the visitors after the first half ended goal-less.
Lewes travelled to Uxbridge missing a host of first team regulars, injured midfield dynamo Katie McIntyre joined by Hayley West, Claire Capon, Georgia Bridges and Paige Walder, giving manager John Donoghue the opportunity to play several of his impressive DS squad. In came Gabby Baldock (midfield) and Fliss Love (right back) with Kellie Larkin, Lucy Apps, Mia Hyland and Hayley Bridge added to the Lewes bench. Baldock lined up on the left with Heather at 7. Rebecca 'Chewy' Carter lead the line, Danielle Lane in close support.
QPR boss Martino Chevannes had one major injury headache, leading scorer Jenni Critchley, out with a broken toe. Rae Roberts took the number nine shirt flanked by Jules denny and Seun Odeniyi, with Sara Ezzahiri at ten.
Lewes pressed from the start. QPR got numbers back, soaked up pressure and played on the counter. On six minutes the first clear chance fell to the home side. Odeniyi picked up possession inside the Lewes box, turned and fired low through a crowd of players. Lauren Dolbear saw it late, diving low, at full-stretch, to palm the ball clear.
The early exchanges, peppered with injuries to QPR players, one after a ferocious challenge between Odeniyi and Lewes skipper Kelly Newton, saw Lewes enjoy the lion's share of possession without threatening Sophie Cheadle's goal. Carter and Heather exchanged passes, looking to play in Lane. Baldock showed pace and control on the left, but with QPR getting numbers back the attacks broke down. On 23 minutes Heather's stinging cross was met by Lane on the charge, her first-time connection flying just wide. Three minutes later, after a succession of Lane corners, Carter spurned an even better chance, leaning back to fire over from eight yards.
On the rare occasion Rangers got at the Lewes defence they found Tammy Waine, as ever, reading the game with aplomb, in command. Lewes pressed in search of an opener, Carter and Heather thwarted by superb tackling by Jean Sseninde and a perfectly-timed challenge by Michaela Lopes on Carter with the Lewes striker all but through. HT 0-0.
The second half continued in the same vein, Rangers pinned in their half for the opening ten minutes, Lopes putting in a fierce tackle on Lane as the Lewes ten broke away. On 52 minutes Fliss Love, warming to her role, fed Heather who switched play through Rutherford to Baldock. Baldock stepped up a gear, making room to deliver a superb cross from the left met on the full by the diving Lane. 0-1.
Chevannes brought Butts on for Roberts. Rangers rallied and almost forced an instant equaliser. Odeniyi got away on the left, cut inside and shot low. Dolbear, advancing to meet her, made a great save, then recovered to deny Maggs on the line, Waine clearing the ball as Lopes pounced. Butts made an instant impact on the Ranger right, finding space to set up Lopes who fired on the half-volley just wide.
Lewes regained their grip, Love and Palmer feeding Heather and Baldock on the flanks. Rutherford went for spectacular overhead, her effort spinning wide. Staples replaced the excellent Lopes, Kellie Larkin coming on for the visitors to replace Baldock. With fifteen minutes to go, Palmer sent a clever first-time ball in behind for Carter, Sseninde crashing into the Lewes striker as both players entered the Rangers the box. The referee blew, awarding a free kick just outside the box. Larkin stepped up to strike her free kick up over the wall and into the top right corner. Cheadle did well to get a hand on it, but there was no stopping that. 0-2 (76).
https://video.twimg.com/tweet_video/C5D3cF3WcAAQgHE.mp4
The Hoops weren't done. Six minutes later Maggs, tireless, fought past Love on her left to race in on Dolbears goal. Dolbear got there first and both players went down in a heap, Waine arriving to clear the danger. A flurry of late changes saw Lewes bring on Bridge for Lane and Hyland for the excellent Carter, Rangers bringing Liz O'Callaghan on for Odeniyi. FT 0-2.
Lewes manager Donoghue, pleased with the win, was quick to acknowledge the home side's efforts.
'They made it hard for us today. We didn't take full advantage of good possession early on, and you have to say that's down to QPR as much as our own play.' On Larkin's strike; 'I told Kellie to take it. She looked at me and I said 'Yes, you!'. She hit it perfectly, gave the keeper no chance, really.'
Martino Chevannes was left to rue his sides missed chances.
'That's another game for (us), another day of frustration at missed opportunities in front of goal. We need to be more clinical.'
He said that the free kick awarded for the late foul on Carter 'that could easily have been a red card and a penalty. It was a close call.'
The away fans voted Sian Heather MvP. I agree, this was another in a series of excellent performances from her. Lauren Dolbear also had another strong afternoon. Baldock and Love looked comfortable in their roles, Bex Thompson and Tammy Waine's centre back partnership is growing very nicely. Fair to say Lewes took the points without really hitting top gear.
QPR face some big matches in what looks like a tough run-in, including a return visit to the Dripping Pan on 12th March. Elly Maggs, Michaela Lopes, Jean Sseninde and latterly Katie Butts impressed. The team defended well as a unit and put in some brave challenges against the fearsome midfield duo of Newton and Rutherford. Goals aside, Cheadle commanded her area well and took care of a host of Lewes deliveries, a good number of them probably a little too close to the home 'keeper.
Next up for Lewes: Coventry United LFC away next Sunday
QPR: Sophie Cheadle, Michaela Lopes, Marika Engles, Jean Sseninde, Joanna Blodgett, Jade Dempster, Elly Maggs, Juliette Denny, Rae Roberts, Sara Ezzahiri, Seun Odeniyi
Subs: Dominika Netschova, Katie Butts, Elizabeth O’Callaghan, Sara Staples
Lewes: Lauen Dolbear, Fliss Love, Rachel Palmer, Bex Thompson, Tammy Waine, Kelly Newton ©, Sian Heather, Leeta Rutherford, Rebecca Carter, Dani Lane, Gabby Baldock
Subs: Apps, Hyland, Larkin, Bridge
