Fratton Park frustration for Pompey Women against Lewes

Pompey Women were held to a frustrating goalless draw by a stubborn Lewes side in the National League on Sunday.

The Blues were on top for most of the Fratton Park contest, but just could not find a way through the visitors’ resolute defence.

Manager Jay Sadler made four changes from the side that beat the same opponents in the League Cup the previous week.

Hermione Cull, Ava Rowbotham, Alisha Ware and Jemima Dahou all returned to the starting line-up, as Ella Pettit, Annie Wilding, Summer Hughes and Freya Jones dropped to the bench.

Pompey dominated possession and territory straight from kick-off and were forcing their opponents to defend deep.

The deadlock was almost broken on five minutes when Sofia Mallon’s low centre was cleared as far as Dahou, who fired narrowly wide from the edge of the box.

But Lewes weathered that early storm and a slip from Rowbotham provided them with a scoring chance, which Una Lue hit wastefully off target with just Cull to beat.

The Blues, meanwhile, were struggling to break through and test keeper Emily Moore, with Lewes getting plenty of players behind the ball.

Another attempt from Dahou – this time from further out – also went wide, with the hosts having to remain patient.

A lengthy break for Moore to receive some treatment on the pitch almost saw Pompey caught cold, however.

The Rooks moved quickly up the pitch and Rowbotham had to make a well-timed challenge on Lue inside the box to stop the striker in her tracks.

Pompey were soon back on the attack themselves, but despite their opponents making a mess of getting the ball clear, it just would not land for anyone to get an effort away.

Zoe Barratt did showcase some neat footwork to get into a shooting position, although her long-range strike was comfortably held by Moore.

And when Mallon then skipped past Beth Kaluya and delivered the ball into the mixer, it flew just behind Kerry Beattie.

But the hosts did almost take the lead just before the break, as Georgie Freeland’s shot took a wicked deflection to deceive Moore and ripple the outside of the net.

The Blues were searching for a spark when the action resumed, and it almost arrived when Mallon cut inside from the right and flashed an effort just past Moore’s near post.

The same player then swapped passes with Barratt before seeing her effort blocked, as the hosts continued to apply pressure.

Mallon was soon brought down by Sydney Schreimarier wide on the right and Alisha Ware’s teasing free-kick flew just over the head of Arabella Suttie in the box.

Keeper Cull had been untroubled for most of the afternoon, but made a regulation save to hold Scarlett Kagalwala’s angled drive just past the hour mark

The action was quickly back down the other end of the pitch, although Beattie could not keep her shot down when the ball was cut back by Mallon.

Sadler responded with a substitution on 69 minutes, as Dahou made way for recent signing Reanna Blades.

The Blues were looking to move through the gears and Moore was unable to hold on to Barratt’s long-range strike, but gathered the loose ball before anyone could pounce.

Skipper Jazz Bull was next to try her luck after being picked out by Mallon’s cross, with Moore equal to her curler from the edge of the area.

Jones came on for Esta Roberts in the midfield engine room, as the hosts continued to search for a way to unlock the Lewes defence.

Barratt’s opportunistic strike flew just past the post, while Suttie’s audacious attempt from 45 yards had to be turned over by Moore.

And Freeland went close with the very last kick of the game, but could not force the ball past Moore following a scramble in the area.

The result leaves Pompey fourth in the table with 10 points from five games.

The Blues travel to Hashtag United on Sunday (kick-off 3pm).

Pompey: Cull; Bull (c), Rowbotham (Collins 89), Suttie, Ware (Hughes 81); Freeland, Dahou (Blades 67), Roberts (Jones 76); Barratt, Beattie, Mallon

Subs not used: Pettit, Wilding, Hazard