Albion Women successfully retained the Sussex Women’s Challenge Cup following a hard-fought victory over Lewes in the final at Culver Road.Goals from Kirsty Barton and an own-goal by Vicky Elcombe secured the trophy for Jay Lovett’s side.
The Seagulls started the game brightly and had a host of chances in the first-half; as Kim Stenning’s shot went wide of the post, before Catherine O’Hagan took advantage of some defensive confusion to fire her effort straight at Lewes keeper Michelle Beazley.
The Rookettes also pressed forward, with Andreia Veiga’s long-range effort narrowly missing the far post, before Naomi Cole’s free-kick was superbly tipped away by Charlotte Sole.
But the chance of the half fell to Stenning, who met Cherelle Khassal’s ball into the box, striking the outside of the post from close-range.
Both sides continued to press forward in search of the elusive first goal, as Khassal’s header was cleared off the line, before Lewes skipper Kelly Newton lobbed Sole and the goal minutes later.
The deadlock was broken in spectacular fashion in the 60th minute; Barton found space on the edge of the area and launched a thunderous shot past Beazley to give Albion the lead.
The second goal came ten minutes later, courtesy of a long-ball into the box by Kerrie Ryan which created havoc among the Lewes defence, before eventually appearing to deflect off Vicky Elcombe for an own-goal.
But Lewes responded to the setbacks well and put Albion under a good deal of pressure, as Sole stood firm to deny Veiga. Cole then missed an open goal with ten minutes to go, as she smashed her shot from six-yards off the underside of the bar.
O’Hagan came close to adding a third goal for Jay Lovett’s side, with her good movement on the edge of the area resulting in a shot which went narrowly over the bar.
Albion held on to and continued their dominance in the competition, having now won the trophy 14 times in the past 19 years.
Having won his first piece of silverware with the side, manager Lovett told seagulls.co.uk, “I’m absolutely delighted with the girls and the effort they put in tonight. They worked so hard and thoroughly deserved to take home the trophy.
“Our aim now, as it always has been, is to push on in the league and finish as high up the table as we can and see what happens.”
Albion: Sole (GK); Cheshire (Rabson 74), Ryan (c), Waine, Boswell; Barton (Somes 88), Agg, Gurr (James 79), O’Hagan, Stenning, Khassal. Subs not used: Mangan (GK), Thompson.
Original article
The Seagulls started the game brightly and had a host of chances in the first-half; as Kim Stenning’s shot went wide of the post, before Catherine O’Hagan took advantage of some defensive confusion to fire her effort straight at Lewes keeper Michelle Beazley.
The Rookettes also pressed forward, with Andreia Veiga’s long-range effort narrowly missing the far post, before Naomi Cole’s free-kick was superbly tipped away by Charlotte Sole.
But the chance of the half fell to Stenning, who met Cherelle Khassal’s ball into the box, striking the outside of the post from close-range.
Both sides continued to press forward in search of the elusive first goal, as Khassal’s header was cleared off the line, before Lewes skipper Kelly Newton lobbed Sole and the goal minutes later.
The deadlock was broken in spectacular fashion in the 60th minute; Barton found space on the edge of the area and launched a thunderous shot past Beazley to give Albion the lead.
The second goal came ten minutes later, courtesy of a long-ball into the box by Kerrie Ryan which created havoc among the Lewes defence, before eventually appearing to deflect off Vicky Elcombe for an own-goal.
But Lewes responded to the setbacks well and put Albion under a good deal of pressure, as Sole stood firm to deny Veiga. Cole then missed an open goal with ten minutes to go, as she smashed her shot from six-yards off the underside of the bar.
O’Hagan came close to adding a third goal for Jay Lovett’s side, with her good movement on the edge of the area resulting in a shot which went narrowly over the bar.
Albion held on to and continued their dominance in the competition, having now won the trophy 14 times in the past 19 years.
Having won his first piece of silverware with the side, manager Lovett told seagulls.co.uk, “I’m absolutely delighted with the girls and the effort they put in tonight. They worked so hard and thoroughly deserved to take home the trophy.
“Our aim now, as it always has been, is to push on in the league and finish as high up the table as we can and see what happens.”
Albion: Sole (GK); Cheshire (Rabson 74), Ryan (c), Waine, Boswell; Barton (Somes 88), Agg, Gurr (James 79), O’Hagan, Stenning, Khassal. Subs not used: Mangan (GK), Thompson.
Original article