Blues Held by Lewes
After taking the knee in a stand against racism and all forms of discrimination in football, Lewes kicked our 2022/23 campaign off. Blues' attacking mission looked clear from the off as Tara Bourne sent a great ball forward in the 2nd minute, but it didn't quite reach Ashley Hodson. Blues continued to push forward over the next ten minutes with Martha Harris dancing around defenders to put a couple of great crosses in, but Blues were unable to make the most of them. Harriet Scott also got forward from defence to cross into the danger area but the ball was comfortably claimed by Sophie Whitehouse in the Lewes net. Blues hearts were in mouths though in the 13th minute when Louise Quinn went for the back-pass but the ball didn't reach Lucy Thomas in goal. Luckily, Bourne got back to make a great last-ditch tackle to stop the ball from reaching the Lewes striker who would have surely scored had the ball reached her. Just a minute later, it was Scott who was making a last ditch tackle and the header from the resulting corner needed and excellent save from Thomas to stop Lewes taking the lead. The rest of the half was end-to-end with both teams pushing forward, but neither able to break the deadlock. Lewes had another chance in the 39th minute when they won a free-kick outside the area. The ball was floated in for a header at the back post, but Scott again made another great block to keep the game at 0-0. Although both sides kept on pushing for the opener, that's how the first half ended but there was plenty to be pleased about for both teams.
Birmingham came out attacking again in the second half and, with just a few seconds gone, Harris forced a save from Whitehouse. Not long after, the game started to open up again and, just as in the first half, no sooner had the ball reached one end of the pitch, it was back down the other. Still, neither side were able to find the back of the net. Lewes did come close though in the 59th minute when Paula Howells turned to find Thomas out of her net and launched an excellent lob from about 30 yards out. The Birmingham keeper got back to make a superb save and tip the shot onto the crossbar. Birmingham again had a good attacking spell, including a penalty shout that was waved away by the referee. It wasn't until the 88th minute though that the best chance of the game came. Jade Pennock, who had come on for Charlie Devlin during the second half, played a great through ball to Libby Smith who found herself one-on-one with the 'keeper. It wasn't to be though as Smith shot straight at Whitehouse and the ball was cleared for a Blues corner. The resulting corner found Pennock on the edge of the area who sent a looping volley onto the crossbar. The ball fell to Lucy Quinn, another second half sub, but she couldn't keep hold of it and Lewes managed to clear the ball. If we weren't going to score then, we never would have! It was honours even as the full time whistle went but with how end to end the game was, it could have been anyone's game.
It may not have seemed like it on the day, but there were plenty of positives for the Blues. We were getting forward well by using all of the pitch, rather than keep playing a long ball over the top for a lone Smith to run on to with no support. Some support for Libby upfront is what we were crying out for last season. Whilst it was there on paper, we spent a lot of time defending, whereas straight from the off this season we've posed more of an attacking threat. Considering our top scorer last season was centre-back Louise Quinn, it's good to see that we have more options for goals. Not that we wouldn't want Lou up there for corners and freekicks still! Martha Harris and Siobhan Wilson look very promising down the wings, able to dance around defenders and put some great crosses in. We do need to be more clinical in the box, but I do believe that if we keep playing how we have been and keep pushing on, it will come.
KRO!
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