London & South East League title-hopefuls Crawley Wasps play three divisions beneath WSL2 newcomers Brighton but limited them to a 5-1 winning margin, despite finding themselves three goals down in only a dozen minutes at Lancing.
Alessia Russo was put through by Lucy Somes to score on 7 minutes and 2 minutes later, a ball over the top saw Kate Natkiel score past the onrushing goalkeeper.
Somes hit the top corner from the edge of the box to make it 3-0 but 4 minutes before the break, Suzanne Davies fired in a reply from Faye Rabson’s cutback for the underdogs.
The Wasps might have further reduced the deficit shortly after the restart but for an excellent stop by Leah Samain, who tipped a Naomi Cole free kick around the post.
Russo got her second goal with a finish into the bottom corner from 10 yards but Crawley still threatened and Samain turned Rosanne Fine’s fierce strike over the bar.
Natkiel was denied by the bar and Crawley keeper Marie Gillstroem palmed Jenna Legg’s firm shot around the post.
The scoring was completed a minute from time, when Hollie Olding was played through by Amy Taylor.
Photo – @SussexCountyFA
