Lewes pick up first win on the road with superb victory at Sheffield United

The visitors went ahead through an Ini Umotong header before a stunning strike from Paula Howells doubled their lead at the break.

The Blades had the better chances in the second half, but Lewes stretched their advantage through Lucy Ashworth-Clifford as Alethea Paul got a late consolation for United.

Sheffield United were almost handed the opener by Lewes keeper Shanell Salgado whose attempted clearance rebounded off Courtney Sweetman-Kirk and dribbled just wide.

With half an hour gone, Lewes took the lead through Umotong who connected sweetly with a cross from Ashworth-Clifford to head Lewes in front.

Lewes then doubled their advantage with three minutes of the half to go, Howells scoring a stunning curler from the edge of the box after Umotong set the Seasiders up with a run from the halfway line.

Sheffield United made the more promising start to the second half, Sweetman-Kirk and substitutes Alethea Paul and Bex Rayner all forcing Salgado into saves.

But it was Lewes who got the ball in the back of the net, Ashworth-Clifford moving the game further out of sight as Sheffield United rued their missed chances.

Paul got a consolation for the home side five minutes from time but it was not enough to force a comeback as Lewes head back to the South Coast with all three points.

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Sheffield United (4-3-3): 20 Fran Kitching, 3 Charlotte Newsham, 25 Sophie Bradley-Auckland (Capt), 4 Tara Bourne, 5 Georgia Robert; 6 Kasia Lipka, 8 Maddy Cusack, 18 Sophie Walton; 7 Courtney Sweetman-Kirk 9 Lucy Watson, 11 Jess Clarke

Substitutes: 21 Bex Rayner for Clarke 25, 10 Alethea Paul for Walton 46, 22 Ocean Rolandsen for Bourne 46

Substitutes not used: 1 Nina Wilson, 14 Mia Enderby, 15 Tamara Wilcock, 17 Matilda Taylor, 19 Charley Docherty,

Goals: Alethea Paul 85

Lewes (4-3-2-1): 32 Shanell Salgado; 20 Sophie O’Rourke, 5 Nicola Cousins, 3 Rhian Cleverly, 18 Rebecca McKenna; 4 Amelia Hazard, 27 Zoe Cross, 7 Lucy Ashworth-Clifford; 10 Freda Ayisi, 14 Paula Howells; 15 Ini Umotong

Substitutes: 23 Izzy Dalton for Cross 76, 11 Heidi Logan for Ayisi 82

Substitutes not used: 31 Laura Hartley, 6 Ellie Hack, 8 Ellie Noble, 9 Georgia Timms, 16 Collins, 34 Lara Miller

Goals: Ini Umotong 32, Paula Howells 42, Lucy Ashworth-Clifford 72

By Milly McEvoy, Sportsbea