Let’s start with that most pertinent of questions: how did we get here? writes Mike Wallis.
Well, I’m glad you asked. In the first round of the WNL Cup there were 22 (yes, twenty two) groups. The group winners went through to the next round of the WNL Cup, along with the ten best second place teams. After contriving a way to lose at Portsmouth having been 2-0 up, Lewes finished second in the group and were ranked the eleventh best second place team and went out of the cup.
But all is not lost! The rest of the second placed-teams and some of the third-placed teams qualify for the WNL Plate! (Cue muted applause.)
And after jumping on a train at Paddington that was very vague about where it was going, this brings us to Maidenhead.
Under the scaffolding, past an incredibly sketchy looking boarded-up pub and turn right by the Conservative Club, complete with Halloween decorations (insert your own joke here), to reach the lovely York Road ground. Banked terrace, trains pootling past on the mainline beside, tiny little bar tucked away in the corner. Proper non-league stuff.
On the pitch, the gap from mid-table in step 3 to mid-table in step 4 is immediately obvious. Maidenhead are boldly trying to play out from the back, which proves to be a bad idea in the long run.
Olivia Johnson’s opener was an odd one. Her shot from distance thumped the underside of the bar and rolled along the line a bit. Just as I was cursing nobody following in, the lino flagged to give the goal. From my vantage point about a metre away, I wasn’t convinced.
Maidenhead dithered on the ball in defence, Ella Stephens nicks the ball and slots it in for 2-0.
Maidenhead dithered on the ball in defence, ball gets nicked again and Liv Carpenter misses a chance to make it 3.
A man who looks a lot like the former Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Čech walks past.
Maidenhead dithered on the ball in defence, Liv Carpenter nicks the ball, cuts inside and does make it 3.
The man who we thought looked a lot like Petr Čech turns out to be the actual Petr Čech, who’s daughter is on the bench for Maidenhead.
The second half starts a bit slowly. Lewes dither on the ball in defence and the Maidenhead no. 9 nicks the ball and lifts it over Emily Moore for 3-1.
Lenny Priest made it 4, heading in a nicely worked corner routine.
Sydney Schreimaier crossed for Carpenter to head in the fifth and should’ve got a rare goal for herself shortly after too – instead crossing for Carpenter who was crowded out.
Bréon Grant added a sixth, running onto Kayla Ginger’s cross and finishing low past the stranded keeper.
Paris Dalton almost made it seven, forcing a good save from the Maidenhead keeper with pretty much the last kick of the game.
An honourable mention to Una Lue who had on another day could’ve had six goals herself but somehow ended up with none.
This was about as comfortable a win as it gets. Looking ahead to the draw tomorrow, we’re definitely the highest ranked side in the Southern section, so maybe qualifying for the Plate isn’t the worst thing to happen after all?
Lewes: Moore; Kaluya, Priest, Edwards; Kagalwala (Ginger), Dalton, Banaras, Stephens (Schreimaier); Carpenter, Johnson (Grant), Lue.
Subs not used: Poulter, Jackson, Jones, Howells
Goals: Johnson, Stephens, Carpenter x2, Priest, Grant.
Supporters Club Player of the Match: Double goalscorer Liv Carpenter.