Lewes 0-1 Crystal Palace - My Cato's header puts the visitors into the Adobe Women's FA Cup fourth round
Updated 14/12/2025 at 18:40 GMT
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Welcome to TNT Sports' live text coverage of third round action from the Adobe Women's FA Cup. Lewes of the Women's National League South were be spying an upset against WSL 2 side Crystal Palace when the two faced off at The Dripping Pan. Lewes previously reached the quarter-finals of the competition in 2023, while Palace reached the same stage last season.
‘The Lewes resistance is broken’ – Cato nods Palace in front with pinpoint header
Video credit: TNT Sports
CATO PUTS PALACE INTO FOURTH ROUND
My Cato’s first-half header put Crystal Palace into the Adobe Women’s FA Cup fourth round at the expense of Lewes.
The Women’s Super League 2 outfit had the better of the match against their hosts who play in the tier below and were kept in the game by player of the match Emily Moore in their goal and whole-hearted defender Ylenia Priest.
That said Priest almost put her side behind in the 12th minute when she swung a leg at Indiah-Paige Riley’s cross and was relieved to see the ball come back off the woodwork.
The key moment, which put Palace into Monday's draw, came two minutes into the second half when Cato rose highest to meet a Palace corner - guiding the ball low into the net.
In the second half it was almost all Palace and they came close to adding to the score when Ashleigh Weerden’s cross-cum shot looked to have beaten Moore but she managed to claw the ball out to safety.
FULL TIME! LEWES 0-1 CRYSTAL PALACE
The visitors full value for their victory and their name will be in the fourth round draw.
90+7' LANE NUDGED OVER BY WEERDEN
It was on the edge of the Palace area. I think it was just about a fair shoulder barge but the home fans do not agree.
90+5' PALACE CONTENT TO KEEP THE BALL IN THE CORNER
And surely they will see the game out now.
90+3' HOWELLS BRINGS DOWN SHARPE
And gives away a free kick near the left corner flag. The game will be delayed shortly as Blanchard gets some treatment.
SIX MINUTES OF INJURY TIME TO BE PLAYED
90' SIBLEY MEETS BLANCHARD'S FREE KICK
But she could not get over the ball and it goes wide of the target.
89' PALACE GET A FREE KICK 25 YARDS FROM GOAL
Priest fouled Sibley from behind as she looked to hold the ball up.
86' BELL WITH A CHANCE TO EQUALISE
She muscles her way in front of her marker from a free kick but just could not get enough connection on her shot and Yanez saves easily.
84' ROCHE WITH A TEASING CORNER
And Priest launches herself at the ball but she goes through a Palace player en route and gives away a foul.
83' HOWELLS PLAYS IN LANE DOWN THE RIGHT FLANK
But the Lewes forward could not get on the end of the cross.
81' NAPIER IS DOWN INJURED
She went down after a full-blooded challenge with Priest. Both players are taking the opportunity to have a drink.
78' EDWARDS PLAYS A BALL INTO PALACE BOX
But Yanez comes out to claim comfortably.
74' LARKIN HAS GO FROM RANGE
But Moore once more gets everything behind it.
73' GOOD EFFORT FROM SHARPE
The Palace substitute takes time to steady before firing an effort which flies just wide of the target.
71' MOORE HAS TO CLAW AWAY
Weerden beats her opponent on the left flank and hits a swirling cross which looked to have beaten Moore but the keeper stretched every sinew to claw it away to safety on the line - with Sibley waiting to pounce.
68' WEERDEN PUTS A FREE KICK INTO THE AREA
But Moore comes out to gather the ball.
65' LARKIN'S CROSS HEADS FOR THE NEAR POST
But Moore collects comfortably for Lewes.
61' HUGHES PLAYS IN RILEY
And her low cross looked destined to be turned in at the back post but Moore pushes the ball away to safety on the stretch.
59' LARKIN SHOOTS FROM THE EDGE OF AREA
She latched onto a nice lay-off from Howart but her effort was a couple of yards over the bar.
57' AN AUDACIOUS EFFORT FROM HUGHES
She shot on the turn from 30 yards and the ball was swirling awkwardly before Moore pushed it wide.
56' RILEY AND HOWAT BOTH HAVE SHOTS BLOCKED
Good football from Palace in and around the penalty area is creating chances, but Lewes remain resolute in defence.
53' HUGHES HEADS THE BALL INTO THER DANGER AREA
But Moore claims and leaves Howat on the floor in her aggressive collection of the ball.
51' PALACE LOOKING DANGEROUS ON THE BREAK
It has not come off yet but they will certainly have opportunities as Lewes go forward.
47' BLANCHARD SHOOTS AT GOAL
Priest beats her own goalkeeper to head away a dangerous cross and Blanchard is not far away from catching Moore out hooking the ball back towards goal.
45' LEWES GET THE SECOND HALF UNDERWAY
They will have to take more chances going forward in this 45 minutes.
HALF TIME!
A deserved lead for Palace. Cato heading home a couple of minutes before the break to put the visitors in front.
45' TWO MINUTES OF INJURY TIME TO BE PLAYED
Can Lewes get an equaliser before the break. They are pressing now.
43' GOAL! LEWES 0-1 CRYSTAL PALACE (CATO)
Sibley's corner was met by Cato on the six-yard box and she guided the ball inside the far post.
42' BLANCHARD WITH A FREE KICK FROM 30 YARDS
And it was dipping just under the crossbar forcing Moore to tip over the bar.
40' BLANCHARD SHOOTS FROM 25 YARDS
It wasn't the worst strike but it was always moving a yard or so wide of goal.
38' HOWELLS IS ALMOST THROUGH ON GOAL
But Palace stopper Yanez was off her line quickly to snuff out the danger.
36' RILEY TRIES AN EFFORT FROM 20 YARDS OUT
But her shot flies well wide of the target.
35' CATO WITH A CROSS INTO THE AREA
But Moore once again deals with it comfortably.
32' HOWAT TRIES A SHOT FROM LONG RANGE
But it was a very optimistic effort and was quickly blocked.
29' MOORE WAS OUT OF HER GOAL
But Cato's effort from long range was well wide of the target.
26' GOOD HANDLING FROM MOORE
Brown with a dangerous cross into the box but Moore plucked it out of the air with authority.
23' LANE TRIES TO FIND TEAM-MATE IN AREA
It was Lewes' first real chance to create in the Palace area but she couldn't find Harvey in the middle.
19' BLANCHARD DOWN INJURED
She receives treatment after getting a clearance in the head.
15' BALL IN THE NET!
A lovely run from Blanchard but, when she slipped the ball behind the Lewes defence, Hughes was clearly offside as she tucked the ball home.
12' OFF THE POST!
There was no one in the box for Riley to aim at but Priest swung a leg at her cross looking to clear the danger - and kind of did, via the workwork.
12' HOWAT ALMOST GETS THROUGH ON GOAL
But she was dispossessed just as she looked to get a shot on target.
9' SIBLEY SHOT IS BLOCKED
Lewes were slow to get across to a short corner and Sibley came into the area before shooting, but a number of Lewes defenders were in the way.
8' BROWN RACES DOWN THE LEFT FLANK
Priest gets over to stop her being able to find a team-mate in the middle, with her challenge giving the visitors corner.
4' PALACE DOMINATING THE EARLY POSSESSION
They have not threatened the Lewes goal yet though.
1' CRYSTAL PALACE GET THE GAME UNDERWAY
THE PLAYERS ARE ON THE FIELD
The action will get underway shortly.
BOTH SIDES RELEGATED LAST SEASON
With promotion looking unlikely at present, they will both love the fillip of a cup run this season.
LEWES QUALIFIED FOR THIS STAGE IN STYLE
The second-tier clubs enter the cup at this stage and Lewes set up tie with a 4-0 victory at Cheltenham Town.
BOTH SIDES MID-TABLE IN RESPECTIVE LEAGUES
Lewes are seventh in the Women's National League Southern Premier Division, one tier below the Women's Super League 2 where Palace are sixth.
EXPECT A LITTLE EDGE TO THE MATCH
It is not quite Brighton-Crystal Palace but Lewes will no doubt have some supporters who are not keen on those from the north end of the M23.
THE ACTION IS NOW LIVE ON TNT SPORTS 1
THE HOSTS TAKING ON PALACE THIS AFTERNOON
THE PALACE SIDE STARTING AT THE DRIPPING PAN
HELLO AND WELCOME...
Thanks for joining our coverage of the Adobe Women's FA Cup match between Third-Round clash between Lewes and Crystal Palace.
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TNT Sports will be bringing 19 Women's FA Cup clashes to your screens throughout the 2025/26 campaign as part of a three-year deal, which will garner greater exposure for women's football clubs across the pyramid. TNT Sports also broadcast a second-round fixture, which was another first for the Women's FA Cup.
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