Date: Saturday, 9th November
Location: Blatchington Mill School

The Lewes Lionesses faced a challenging match on Saturday against the Brighton Gulls, meeting in the Girls Development League. With twelve determined players, the Lionesses put up a strong fight, showing impressive resilience and teamwork throughout the game.

The match began defensively for Lewes, with Hannah building a solid backline and Miya making some vital saves early on. Despite opportunities to advance, Brighton's positioning made it difficult for Lewes to maintain possession and build momentum. Just three minutes in, Lewes defended against their first short corner, with Phiala and Emily stepping up in midfield to disrupt Brighton's attacks effectively. At the close of the quarter, Lewes made a promising approach to Brighton's goal, only to be thwarted by a sturdy defence.

In the second quarter, Lewes started to find their rhythm, pushing into Brighton's half and looking for ways to maintain possession. Though Brighton's defensive organization remained tough to break down, the Lionesses managed to create pressure with several good plays. Seven minutes into the quarter, Brighton capitalized on a short corner, scoring the game’s first goal. However, Lewes continued to create chances, with Amelie making an impressive interception, Merle channelling Brighton’s attacks down their right, and Mabel R covering the ground with some well-timed runs to support the defence. Despite Hannah's best efforts on the hit-outs, Lewes struggled to break Brighton's solid formation.

The third quarter showcased some excellent teamwork from the Lionesses. With a quick passing play, Phiala connected with Coco, who skillfully drove around the Brighton goalie to level the score. Brighton responded aggressively, but the combined efforts of both Mabels, Hannah, and Miya’s impressive saves kept the score level. Another short corner of Brighton was swiftly shut down by a fantastic run-out from Mabel, and Lewes closed the quarter with a strong shot from Phiala at the top of the D, though the Brighton keeper held firm.

Entering the final quarter, Lewes’ defence worked tirelessly as Brighton pressed hard. Miya made consecutive saves, and Hannah thwarted several Brighton attempts. However, Brighton’s offensive pressure broke through twice, giving them a two-goal lead that Lewes couldn’t close by the final whistle.

Despite the 3-1 loss, the Lionesses displayed commendable effort, resilience, and teamwork throughout the match. Player of the Match went to Hannah, chosen by both the coaches and Brighton for her strong performance and relentless defending. Eleanor was also recognized for her contributions to the team.

Well done, Lionesses—your hard work and determination were evident on the pitch!