On a bright Saturday afternoon, 11 determined Lionesses travelled to Crowborough for their final U16 Girls Development League match of the season. For some of the squad, this was only their third appearance after moving up from the U12s, and they showed great progress in learning their positions and building their confidence on the pitch.

Lewes started strongly, taking the first pushback and immediately applying pressure. Emilia and Emily combined well on the left flank, driving forward with intent. Crowborough responded with counterattacks, but Miya was quick to react, making three crucial saves within the opening ten minutes to keep the game level.

The Lionesses continued to press, with Alicia making a strong run down the right wing, earning a long corner after breaking into the D. The team worked hard to create chances, registering at least five shots on goal, only to be denied each time by a determined Crowborough goalkeeper.

However, against the run of play, Crowborough capitalized on a defensive error and found the back of the net 15 minutes in. Despite the setback, Lewes remained focused, with Phoebe making a fantastic run into the D, but once again, luck was n but once again, luck was not on their side as the shot missed the backboard. Crowborough took advantage of a breakaway just four minutes later, doubling their lead.

The Lionesses refused to back down. Emilia, Emily, and Alicia continued to push forward, keeping the pressure on, while Mabel, Erin, Hazel, and Merle worked tirelessly in midfield to break up Crowborough’s advances. A well-placed early hitout from Erin found Emily, but once more, the opposition’s defense stood firm. Erin adjusted her approach, opting for wider passes, and a switch between Emilia and Phoebe in midfield helped Lewes shift the attack to the right.

With just a minute remaining in the half, Crowborough managed to score their third goal, leaving Lewes with a tough task ahead in the second half.

A halftime talk focusing on communication, defensive positioning, and capitalizing on right-hand drives saw the Lionesses return to the pitch with renewed energy. Esme’s arrival brought fresh legs and allowed for much-needed substitutions. Crowborough, with six subs at their disposal, came out strong, but Eleanor led a brilliant break down the left, narrowly missing the target.

Merle and Hazel formed a solid defensive partnership, with Florence linking up well in midfield. Hazel did brilliantly to clear a Crowborough short corner, but the pressure remained. At the other end, Lewes won a short corner of their own, with Alicia stepping up to inject. Eleanor had three successive attempts, but the ball refused to cross the line.

Crowborough capitalized on a breakaway to score their fourth goal, and shortly after, Emily had to leave the pitch temporarily after taking a stick to the knee. The team rallied together, with Esme providing vocal encouragement to push them forward.

With five minutes left on the clock, their determination finally paid off—Erin’s precise hitout found Eleanor, with Esme and Phoebe supporting the attack. Phoebe made no mistake in front of the goal, slotting the ball home to give Lewes a well-deserved goal.

The final moments saw further attacking efforts from Alicia, Phoebe, Emilia, and Esme, but just before the final whistle, Crowborough sealed the game with a fifth goal.

Final Score: Crowborough 5 – 1 Lewes

Despite the result, the Lionesses showed fantastic teamwork, resilience, and attacking intent throughout the match. Their improvement was clear, and with the experience gained this season, they can head into future matches with confidence. Well played, Lionesses!