Following another solid league win v Eastbourne on Saturday, which saw Lewes Ladies 1's move to second in the South 3B League, they were in action again hosting Milton Keynes Ladies 1's in the Investec Ladies Trophy Competition.

Lewes started strongly but could not convert a number of good early chances and it was MK who scored first from a penalty corner. From the re-start, MK won the ball in mid-field and broke forward again. A strong hit in to the Lewes D was converted by a crisp strike to put MK 2-0 up after 16 minutes, against the run of play. Lewes then piled on the pressure and were rewarded with a goal from a well-worked penalty corner scored by the inimitable Kerry Fitzpatrick.

With Lewes now firing on all cylinders Anna Hilton was played through on goal and duly leveled the score at 2-2 by cooly lifting the ball over the sprawling MK keeper and so ended the first half. With all to play for, coach Hugo Youngman roused his team for the second half and it wasn't long before Anna Hilton scored her second with great support play from Laura Molloy. It was now all Lewes and within a few minutes Kerry Fitzpatrick netted her second, again from a penalty corner. MK didn't give up, fought hard and won a penalty corner which they duly converted. 4-3. Lewes, however, weren't going to allow them back in and Anna Hilton put the match beyond doubt with 2 further goals resulting from beautiful passing moves involving most of the Lewes mid-field and forwards.

Overall, a very entertaining match, played in a good spirit with Lewes earning a well-deserved 6-3 win. Who will they draw in the next round?

Report by Richard Rudrum