Eagles crash 2-0 away to Lewes

By Football Reporter

Lucy Porter’s neat second-half finish guided Lewes to a 2-0 FA Women’s Championship victory over Crystal Palace at the Dripping Pan.

Izzy Dalton doubled the home side’s score in a heated contest that saw Siobhan Wilson sent off in the 71st minute.

Lewes benefitted from a strong performance by goalkeeper Tatiana Saunders, who denied numerous attempts by an eager Eagles offence that simply couldn’t find a breakthrough.

The Rooks broke a two-game winless skid, reversing their mid-table momentum, while Palace dropped their second straight.

A cagey first half resulted in few chances for either side in the opening exchanges.

The Rooks finally found themselves on the front foot on 20 minutes, Dalton kick-starting her side’s attack with an effort from distance missing by mere inches.

A minute later, Saunders prevented the visitors an opener with a smart save at the edge of the area. Dalton then turned provider, feeding a free kick to Lucy Porter who watched her effort bounce off the woodwork.

Palace keeper Emily Orman produced a series of fine saves in quick succession to frustrate Lewes’ front line and send the sides into the break goalless despite five minutes of added time.

Finally, on 48 minutes, Porter found herself in space and fired home an outside-footed strike to pull her side ahead.

The goal fired up the home side, who turned up the dial on their attack, Orman denying several good attempts and Lewes narrowly missing others.

The Eagles found themselves on the back foot and struggling to clear when Dalton pounced on a loose ball at the edge of the area and made it 2-0 on 57 minutes.

Palace were down to ten after Wilson saw red for her challenge on Porter, leaving Lewes to play out the remaining 20 minutes and secure the three points.

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Lewes: Tatiana Saunders, Ellie Mason, Rebecca McKenna, Ellie Hack (c), Sophie O’Rourke, Amelia Hazard, Izzy Dalton, Georgia Timms, Paula Howells, Lucy Porter, Lucy Ashworth-Clifford

Substitutes used: Heidi Logan for Howells 78’, Zoe Cross for Hazard 78’, Freda Ayisi for Porter 84’, Ellie Noble for Timms 84’, Josie Longhurst for Ashworth-Clifford 89’

Substitutes not used: Shanel Salgado, Laura Hartley, Nicola Cousins, Lea Cordier,

Goals: Porter 48’, Dalton 57’

Crystal Palace: Emily Orman, Annabel Johnson (c), Lizzie Waldie, Gracie Pearse, Charley Clifford, Aimee Everett, Sophie McLean, Coral-Jade Haines, Siobhan Wilson, Bianca Baptiste, Millie Farrow

Substitutes used: Molly-Mae Sharpe for Farrow 60’, Kirsty Barton for Clifford 60’, Alex Hennessey for Haines 84’, Isabella Sibley for McLean 84’

Substitutes not used: Hope Smith,

Red Cards: Wilson 70’