Women’s football: Crystal Palace up to third in Championship after 3-1 win over Lewes

An inspired effort by substitute Bianca Baptiste sparked Crystal Palace’s comeback as they beat Lewes 3-1 at Hayes Lane in the FA Women’s Championship.

Despite dominating the opening 45 minutes, the visitors only had Amelia Hazard’s smart finish to show for their efforts at the break.

Baptiste, introduced at the interval, levelled proceedings before teeing up Siobhan Wilson.

Tatiana Saunders was sent off in the third minute of added time, with Coral-Jade Haines stepping up from the spot to secure the three points and leapfrog the Eagles into third place in the standings.

With Palace intent on playing out from the back at every opportunity, Craig Gill’s side pressed high – and got their reward.

Hazard had two wonderful opportunities in quick succession, twice denied by Emily Orman, but the Palace keeper could do little about the opener.

Initially heading away from goal, Hazard reversed quickly to smartly glide her finish across Orman and into the far corner.

Lewes kept coming forward, Lucy Ashworth-Clifford saw her shot tipped over before Izzy Dalton fizzed an effort just over the bar.

The turning point was Georgia Timms’ miss just after the hou as she shot high into the stand from five yards out.

Palace made them pay a minute later. Lizzie Waldie released Molly-Mae Sharpe, who in turn fired in a wicked cross to the back post for Baptiste to finish with aplomb.

That changed the momentum. Sharpe was denied by a goal-line headed clearance from Ellie Mason after she had rounded Tatiana Saunders and with Palace changing formation, the inevitable second arrived.

Baptiste used her low centre of gravity to get the wrong side of her defender, nipping in a low cross which was met by an outstanding finish from Wilson

Haines dusted herself off after being clattered by Saunders late on – who saw red – to score from the spot to complete the turnaround in style.

Palace manager Dean Davenport said: “We got the early goal, got the ball forward quicker and we put Lewes on the back foot often, so it worked.

“We won’t change the way we play and the girls have to work things out for themselves, which they did today. Even though they pressed us well, we gave away a lot of balls and we’ll look at that in training, but we’ll never ask them to get away from having a go.

“The work before Bianca’s goal was terrific. We moved the ball, popped it around and the ball from Molly is great. Bianca scores goals, that’s what she does, but the build-up was just as good.

“We needed to bounce back after the Liverpool game when our standard wasn’t where it should be but we had a go then, and we’ve had a go today and it’s worked for us.”

To follow the action and sign up for The FA Player’s live Barclays FA Women’s Super League coverage, visit womenscompetitions.thefa.com

PICTURES: KEITH GILLARD