Report & Reaction: Watford 2-3 Lewes

Nine-player Watford fell just short in their first home game of 2025, with Lewes taking the points from a 3-2 thriller at Grosvenor Vale.

Ellie Head’s header was the only goal in an action-packed first half controlled mostly by Watford, but in which Drè Georgiou was dismissed for alleged foul language and captain Megan Chandler was sin-binned for dissent. 

Lewes turned the game around early in the second half with goals for Paula Howells and Olivia Carpenter, before Annie Rossiter was given her marching orders after an exchange with the referee at a Watford corner.

The visitors added a third via substitute Kayla Ginger, but Madison Perry immediately responded to halve the deficit again with the game in the dying stages.

Defeat leaves Watford fourth in the FA Women’s National League South table, with league leaders Ipswich Town visiting The Vale next Sunday.

Renée Hector was heartened by her side’s dogged display in spite of wet and windy conditions and a two-player disadvantage.

“A really disappointing afternoon to be honest,” she told watfordfc.com after the game. “I feel like the game was probably spoiled by some officiating decisions.

“But one thing I can be proud of is the application and the character of the players.

“They dug in. They were up against it from the first half, going from ten to nine players, and then going from ten to nine players again, and not one second did they ever give up.

“They were fighting for each other and encouraging each other to keep going - we can take that forward into the next games because we have got a lot of games coming up, so we are going to need it.

“We are having to ask forwards to do jobs out of possession that they don’t normally have to do, but not for one second did anybody moan or chuck the towel in. They just kept trying and trying and that is all I could ask from them, so I am so proud of them.”

The challenging weather conditions forced the Head Coach to make some changes to her tactics, whilst Hector was pleased to see both Head and Perry on the scoresheet. 

“It was a difficult one tactically,” she added. “We like to keep the ball and grind teams down with our possession, and our attacking threat.

“We did at moments, but the pitch got worse and worse as the game went on so we had to try and change that a little bit, and that was the thought behind some of the substitutions.

“We needed some runners on the pitch - some people that could get in behind - so that is sort of how we got our second goal, which is really good, so it just shows we can we adapt to what is presented to us.

“There are lots of different players contributing to goals and assists as well - it just shows the quality that we have got in the squad - so it is pleasing for them two (Perry and Head).

“They have had a little bit of tough time in front of goal, but now they are starting to pick up that form which is coming at a good time.

“We are going to need them to take that form into the next games moving forward.”

Finally, the dramatic nature of the defeat means thoughts won’t immediately be turning to next weekend.

“I need we all need a good, long soak in the bath or something tonight,” Hector exclaimed.

“Then, as soon as we have accepted and digested what has happened, all our work then goes into next week, and 100 per cent trying to get a result.”

Watford controlled the first half and continued their free-flowing style of play through the weather, testing goalkeeper Emily Moore on several occasions. Poppy Wilson had the best chance of the early exchanges, with her low strike nearly sneaking past the Lewes’ stopper.

Anne Meiwald required treatment for a suspected head injury when Georgiou booted the ball out of play, but in the discussion that followed the referee brandished a red card for the midfielder. Captain Chandler looked to defuse the situation and was subsequently yellow carded and sent to the sin bin.

The Golden Girls held on with nine players for 10 minutes, and then until half-time with 10 players, but would soon lose Rossiter swiftly after the equaliser.

Howells linked up with Carpenter to restore parity against the run of play, and Watford won a corner almost immediately after the goal.

Rossiter removed the corner flag due to standing water around the pitch, causing referee Robert Pealing to caution the midfielder. After a brief discussion, Rossiter was dismissed with a straight red card.

Carpenter then added a goal of her own to give Lewes the lead, prompting Watford to introduce attacking players in an attempt to equalise.

Jessie Gale was sent through by Coral Haines and rounded Moore, with the goalkeeper taking down the forward on the edge of the box. Despite Watford’s protests for a red card to be given as a denial of a goalscoring opportunity, Pealing gave Moore a yellow card. 

Debutant Ginger fired in the decisive third with two minutes left of normal time, and despite Perry slotting home Watford’s second, the equaliser eluded Hector’s Hornets.