Not up to our standards: Lewes beaten by Bees in League Cup

Lauren Pickett scored the only goal of the game for the hosts, as they got their first win in this season’s competition.

Lee Burch's side forced the best chance of the opening 20 minutes, with Amelia Hazard's strike cleared off the line by the head of Charley Boswell in spectacular fashion.

Following their positive start to the game, the home side took the lead through Pickett, as the forward fired home after Lewes goalkeeper Laura Hartley parried a Melisa Filis effort.

Filis looked to double her side's advantage minutes later, but having turned smartly saw her shot sail over from just outside the area.

The Bees continued to create the better of the first half chances and Pickett was unlucky not to grab her second of the evening before the break, having been unable to scramble home Flo Gamby's inviting cross from the right.

A double half-time switch for Lewes couldn't prevent further chances for the hosts in the second half, as Gamby’s header flashed wide from Charlie Estcourt's corner before the hour mark.

The closest Lewes came to an equaliser was a tame effort from substitute Katie Rood, which was comfortably held by Sarah Quantrill.

At the other end, Filis twice came close to doubling the lead, but saw her first strike deflect wide of the far post, while Hartley managed to tip over her next effort from the resulting corner, as the hosts managed to see the game out for the three points.

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Lewes defender Rhian Cleverly said: "Regardless of the result, we know, as a team, this wasn't at the high standards we've set over the last couple of weeks. We changed a few players, giving everyone minutes but we can't make excuses. We can play better, but credit to London Bees, I thought they did well today.

"Whether it's down to tiredness I don't know, or the different type of game. We're used to not having the ball very much over the last couple of weeks, but we need to learn to adapt because obviously we're going to be playing against Bees and other similar teams throughout the season.

“We need to be a bit smarter on the pitch and solve the problems. I think we could have played through them better and a lot of the mistakes came from ourselves."

Lewes (4-2-3-1): Laura Hartley; Ella Newman, Ellie Hack, Rhian Cleverly, Charley Boswell; Filippa Savva, Ellie Noble; Ellie Leek, SImran Jhamat, Paula Howells; Emma Jones

Substitutes: Meg Mackey for Paula Howells 45, Sammy Quayle for Ella Newman 45, Danni Lane for Savva 74, Katie Rood for Jones 74, Emily Donovan for Leek 80. Substitutes not used: Sophie O'Rourke

Referee: Luke Donaldson