The inevitability of Lewes being drawn against Palace in a cup competition yet again was offset by the game being live on the actual telly, writes Mikes Wallis.
The car park was taken over by several trucks, cables running here, there and everywhere around the Pan; and randomly former Lewes player Liam McDevitt made a surprise return to the Pan, this time as a TV presenter. He was fortunate that Terry and PJ had managed to fix the dodgy turnstile last week so he could use it to film his opening link!
We had the full works before kick-off: flaming torches from Southover Bonfire, the FA Cup itself posing for pictures and, best of all, a catering van for the TV people who offered the stewards and volunteers their leftovers!
On the pitch, Lewes held their own against a team of full-time pros that were playing WSL football last season. Palace scored an annoying one from a corner (not dissimilar to Jack Burchell’s goal for the men’s side on Saturday) just before half-time. Palace had most of the chances, Lenny Priest managed to smack an attempted clearance off her own post and the highlights that TNT have put up play out like Emily Moore’s personal highlights reel, such was the amount of saves she made. Taylor Bell did have a chance late on for Lewes but she couldn’t get the goal that would force extra time. Lewes gave a good account of themselves, but ultimately fell just short.
Having spent most of my time pre-match handing out Equal FA Cup cards to everyone coming in, it was fortunate that the 21st minute happened during a break in play so (hopefully) the campaign got some attention on the TV coverage.
The distribution of money across the FA Cup is really stupidly skewed towards the bigger men’s teams who obviously don’t need the money, with a really pitiful share of the overall prize pot going towards not only the Women’s FA Cup but also to sides who exit before the Third Round of the Men’s FA Cup. Director Ben has written about this for the BBC, with the usual depressing nonsense comments below the line. If nothing else comes of yesterday’s result, hopefully there will be more attention and maybe even some action from the FA to follow.
Lewes: Moore, Brant, Priest, Edwards, Schreimaier (Rowe), Banaras (Roche), Howells, Harvey, Trewhitt (Bell), Carpenter (Ferguson), Lane.
Unused subs: Woods, Ginger, Gilligan
Supporters Club player of the match: Emily Moore got the nod from the TNT pundits and I’m inclined to agree.
Boyesy’s brilliant photos:
