Lewes have the edge but Hillcan count themselves unlucky

The 1sts will count themselves a shade unlucky to lose 1-2 at home to Lewes II in an evenly fought match.

Harriet Dakin was left wrongfooted as Lewes went ahead but more than atoned with some great shot-stopping during the rest of the match.

Hill equalised before half time when Florence Williams set up captain GeorgiaAloof for a shot that went through the crowd and deflected in off a defender.

Both sides had good spells of pressure after the break but it looked like being a draw until Lewes followed up a shot that came back off a post to grab the winner.

Hill 3rds were also unlucky not to take a point as they went down 3-4 to Lewes 4ths.

They trailed 0-2 early on but then got to grips with the visitors’ attacking formation and pulled one back when a driving run by Rachel Vans Agnew allowed Lucy Perry to score a goal her excellent first half performance on the left wing merited.

After the break Lewes restored the two-goal advantage but Jill Brotherton again narrowed the gap as she converted a Lucy Hagger cross.

Lewes struck again but the last 20 minutes belonged to Hill and they were unlucky not to add more than Alison Gillham’s unstoppable strike at a penalty corner.

The Ambers came up against an older and more experienced Lewes Lionesses as they went down 1-3.

There were fine performances from Kaitlyn Slater-Barnes, Lucy Jurkowski and adult player Wendy Howell.

Keeper Kennedy Ridings also did well to stem the tide and Derval Branagan showed what a real team player she is, covering superbly out of position at left back when Jurkowski took a heavy challenge.

Claudia Thornton scored the Hill goal.

The 2nds were the only team not playing Lewes as they were held to a goalless draw by Hailsham 2nds.

Lucie Venables starred in a game where Hill missed a penalty flick but were given a tough, physical examination.

Two goals in each half sent Mid Sussex 2nds to a forgettable 0-4 defeat away to Crawley 2nds, while the 3rds faded after a bright start as they lost 1-3 to Hailsham at St Paul’s.

Collins scored to confirm Middies’ early superiority but they then lost their way.

It was 1-1 at half time but after the break lack of team fluency proved costly.

Howell was MoM and there were mentions in dispatches for Lowries, Divall and Kelly.