MU Women celebrate the second goal against Lewes

Lewes Women 0 United Women 2

Sunday 02 December 2018 16:52

Manchester United Women racked up a fifth consecutive win on Sunday afternoon, making light work of a long away trip to East Sussex to beat Lewes Women with two second-half goals.

Not even a heavy pitch at The Dripping Pan ground, affected by adverse weather and the staging of a men's fixture 24 hours earlier, could prevent Casey Stoney's side creating numerous chances.

Katie Zelem forced the first notable parry by Lewes goalkeeper Faye Baker in the 14th minute, after some positive link-up play between United captain Alex Greenwood and Mollie Green on the right. Millie Turner was unfortunate not to convert the rebound, instead striking the outside of the left-hand post from close range.
A crowd of 1,958 fans watched the action at The Dripping Pan.
Baker also made some fine stops following two Zelem corners, to keep out a shot from Greenwood and then to tip the ball over the bar when the next set piece threatened to go directly in.

Zelem also had a free-kick saved, shortly after Lizzie Arnot became the second United player to hit the post in an action-packed first half.

Lewes were under almost constant pressure throughout the opening 45 minutes but they almost snatched an unlikely breakthrough just before half-time when Georgia Robert forced a good save from the Reds' experienced goalkeeper Siobhan Chamberlain and a follow-up was cleared off the line.
Stoney made two changes for the restart as her side sought a richly deserved lead; Aimee Palmer was replaced in midfield by Charlie Devlin, while Leah Galton came on for Arnot in attack.

It took only a further six minutes of play for United to find a way past Baker, with Greenwood threading a pass down the left to Jess Sigsworth. The no.9 then cut inside before squaring the ball to Green in the area for an emphatic first-time finish.
Green put the Reds in front after good work by Sigsworth.
The Reds' two half-time substitutes were heavily involved in the chase for a second goal, with Galton and Devlin both helping to tee up Sigsworth for attempts that were thwarted by the busy Baker.

Sigsworth had left the field, making way for third sub Lauren James, by the time United actually doubled the advantage in the 80th minute.

Devlin played her part, winning the penalty that Greenwood stepped up to take. Although the visiting skipper's kick was saved by Lewes' best performer Baker, Toone buried the ball after it dropped in the mud inside the six-yard box, thereby extinguishing any hopes the hosts might have had of forcing an unlikely draw.
 
Toone made it 2-0 from close range after Greenwood's penalty was saved.
MATCH DETAILS

United Women: Chamberlain; Smith, Hartley, M. Turner, Greenwood; Zelem, Green, Palmer (Devlin 46); Toone, Sigsworth (James 71), Arnot (Galton 46).
 
Substitutes not used: Ramsey, Roberts, Hanson, Salmon.

Scorers: Green 51, Toone 80.

NEXT HOME MATCH

The Reds are in action at Leigh Sports Village in midweek, hosting Durham Women in the FA Continental Tyres League Cup on Wednesday night. Kick-off is at 19:00 GMT and tickets will be available from www.manutd.com/womenstickets.

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Photos by James Boyes.

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