Portsmouth beaten as Crawley Wasps put in outstanding defensive display

Emma Plewa’s first-half finish was enough to seal the three points – and back-to-back home league wins – for Dave Cole’s side.

Wasps started strongly and Portsmouth ‘keeper Hannah Haughton palmed Nikita Whinnett’s close-range strike onto the frame of the goal. Skipper Naomi Cole then tried her luck from a free-kick, which sailed just over the crossbar.

The deadlock was broken after 26 minutes. Immy Lancaster hooked the ball into the box where Plewa was waiting at the far post. The Welsh winger – who scored twice against Portsmouth last season – proved the hero again as she controlled the ball, turned and tapped it in.

Wasps’ defence, so industrious to deny Pompey time and space, also proved a threat at the other end. Seven minutes after the break, left-back Rachel Palmer whipped in a corner which was met by mud-stained centre-half Darcey James, whose header was denied by the diving Haughton.

Whinnett had the chance to double Wasps’ lead after 57 minutes, rifiling in a shot which had Haughton beaten but fell just the wrong side of the right-hand post.

Lynch proved to be Wasps’ saviour in the closing stages. Not only did she dominate her box, punching and claiming Pompey’s deliveries, but deep into injury time, she stretched to deny Katie James’s shot as the Portsmouth forward had scampered into the box.

It confirmed the win for Wasps and helped Lynch seal her third clean-sheet of the season.

Midfielder Lancaster was named Wasps’ player of the match by match sponsor Vita Risk Solutions.

WASPS: Lynch; Nash, James, Russell, Palmer; McIntyre, Cole; Stephens (Mosengo 72), Lancaster, Plewa; Whinnett. Subs not used: Talbut-Smith, Jackson, Simmons.

Summer signing Ami Martins scored both goals as Wasps’ Development Squad won 2-0 at Parkwood Rangers, who skied a penalty late on. They stay second in the London & South East Division 1 South.

report contributed