“Women’s football – it’s not very physical.” Two words: sod off.
Lewes made some running repairs to get the first XI on the pitch yesterday, their third tough game in eight days.
Ellie Mason’s left thigh alone created a national strapping shortage:
While Sophie Whitehouse was practically held together by tape:
Unlike the bar, the game definitely wasn’t contactless either. There were plenty of tasty challenges:
Not least when Kenzie Weir got sandwiched between her own keeper and defender and had to leave the field:
Paula Howells was dumped on her arse about ten times in the first half alone:
Although you can always tell when Paula’s taken a hit. She gets up and gives Boyesy’s camera one of these:
With all the rough and tumble going on, it was a good job there was a sheriff on hand to keep an eye on it all:
If it were a boxing match, and it came close at times, Sunderland might well have won the first half on points.
Twice the visitors broke free of the Rooks back line to create one-on-one chances. The first saw Kenzie Weir put in a last-ditch challenge that (if we’re being honest) we thought was a penalty at the time, and the video highlights have done nothing to change our mind. The second was well parried by Sophie Whitehouse.
The closest the Rooks came in the first half was a great break by Ellie Mason, who burst down the right and flashed a shot right across goal.
Credit to Scott Booth, he made two positive changes at half-time that definitely had an impact on the game. Captain Cleverly was withdrawn for Grace Palmer, who came on and helped Amelia Hazard boss the midfield, while Emma Thompson was replaced by Aqsa Mushtaq, who definitely gave Sunderland more problems with her pace.
Both Rooks goals came from set-pieces delivered by player of the game Hazard. The first was a deep free-kick that was headed towards goal and diverted into the path of Ellie Mason, who lashed it home.
The second, as the game was gasping for breath in injury time, came from a free-kick on the other side. Hazard again put it straight into the danger zone and Kirsty Barton bundled it across the line to get her first goal for the club.
It was a much-needed win for the Rooks, who’ve been in patchy league form of late and have a nasty looking trip to London City next week, before the small matter of an FA Cup quarter-final against Man Utd. You might want to tape that one.
Lewes: Whitehouse, McKenna, Wardlaw, Barton, Cleverly, Weir, Johnson, Hazard, Howells, Thompson, Mason
Subs: Moore, Palmer, Mushtaq, Copus-Brown, Keegan-Stobbs, Rita, Heria, Pursey, Longhurst,
Supporters Club player of the match: Amelia Hazard for two great set-piece deliveries for the goals and a no-nonsense display in midfield
Video highlights from Your Instant Replay:
Boyesy’s brilliant photos:
