L&SERWFL Premier Division result: Millwall Lionesses 0-1 Dulwich Hamlet
By Jeff Burnige at St Paul’s
This local derby between two clubs with long unbeaten runs was settled just as the clock approached stoppage-time in controversial fashion, when Hamlet’s Rhea Gall appeared to kick the ball out of Millwall goalkeeper Chrissie Wiggins’ hands and into the net following a corner.
The referee consulted his assistant but neither felt able to disallow it, as the delighted Hamlet fans behind the goal were busy celebrating this much-prized victory with their team until well after the final whistle.
Dulwich are having a great season, and the previous Sunday they had knocked National League side London Bees out of the Women’s FA Cup.
Millwall, meanwhile, had won seven games in a row after a poor start to the season.
This match was a typical tightly contested local derby, and had looked certain to finish goalless. Even after the goal, Millwall’s Maizi Garwood hit the crossbar, but it was Hamlet’s day.
The Lionesses had both Millie Connell and Liv McGregor carried off, but they were well replaced by Hope Welsh and Melissa Jones. Neither of the former look likely to be fit for this weekend’s FA Cup tie with Bromley, which was the Lionesses’ reward for their victory at Denham United in the last round. The Hamlet will travel to Billericay Town.
This match had attracted a large crowd to St Paul’s in Rotherhithe, and this weekend should be even better for the match with another local rival in improving Bromley.
Although this game had few goalmouth incidents with defences very much on top, it was a hard-fought affair, with Hamlet’s ex-Millwall favourite Angel Reid always trying to unlock the excellent home defence featuring Sophie Chapman, Poppy Payne and Emel Huseyin. Reid was replaced late in the game by another ex-Lioness youngster, Luna Alves Etienne.
Over at Balham Ladies, the Lionesses under-18s continued their defence of the Capital Women’s Cup Junior Section with a comfortable 4-0 victory through goals from Jess Edwards (2), Maya Bethelme and Frances Kerr. This Sunday they defend their other cup from last season, the London FA Under-18 Cup, as they visit Hinton and Finchley.
Meanwhile, the Lionesses’ Grace Laverick has confirmed she needs surgery on a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament and torn meniscus in her knee. You can help her here.
