Lewes show magic of Women's FA Cup but gap between top two leagues must shrink
If you want proof of the current gap between the WSL and the Women's Championship - just look at the venues for Manchester United's two fixtures this week.
On Sunday, United edged out a battling Lewes side in the FA Cup, who sit eighth in the second tier, in front of 2,801 packed out fans at the tiny Dripping Pan with miniscule away changing rooms. Next week United will take on West Ham in the WSL at Old Trafford, as part of women's football weekend, a far cry from the home of the Rooks.
19 places separated United and Lewes going the first quarter-final tie, but there is a world of difference between the two clubs. Lewes had never been to the last eight before and even though United only had once, they are one of the biggest names in football, with one of the biggest budget in the women's game.
Lewes continue to scrap away in the Championship, a league United won comfortably in their first season back in 2018-19. But there was something refreshing about seeing Mary Earps, Ona Batlle and Alessia Russo stepping out on a tight pitch in blustery conditions in front of a noisy, passionate Sussex crowd. Whilst it is crucial the women's game grows, it doesn't all need to be in glistening, first-class arenas.
This was a raw, edgy cup-tie and although United ended up 3-1 winners Lewes equipped themselves well, particularly in defence. But the game also showed the difference between the top two leagues in the women's game.
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Lewes gave as good a performance as they could have wished to give, but never really worried United save for a few minutes after Emily Kraft scored late on, following a rare error from Earps. Lewes manager Scott Booth said he was proud of the performance.
LEWES, ENGLAND - MARCH 19: Alessia Russo of Manchester United celebrates the team's first goal, an own goal scored by Rhian Cleverly of Lewes during the Vitality Women's FA Cup match between Lewes and Manchester United at The Dripping Pan on March 19, 2023 in Lewes, England. (Photo by Steve Bardens - The FA/The FA via Getty Images)"It was nice to get a goal for the fans and the team after all the effort we put in. We deserved a goal. We competed every step of the way," he said after the defeat.
But for all Lewes deserved praise for the way they equipped themselves against one of the best teams around, it does highlight the growing gap between the two leagues that Lewes can play as well as that yet still fall to a relatively straight forward defeat. On the same day the only other Championship side Birmingham City were also knocked out of the cup, falling to a 2-0 defeat to a Brighton team struggling at the wrong end of the WSL.
Birmingham did stun top-flight Everton earlier in the competition but these days results are becoming rarer. There was excitement when promotion-chasing London City Lionesses drew out-of-form Tottenham in round four, but Spurs cantered to a 5-0 win. Both Durham and Coventry United lost 5-0 to WSL opposition in round five.
The second tier may be sponsored by Barclays, but the finances and budgets of the teams competing isn't on the same scale of those in the top flight. Elsewhere on Sunday, London City picked up a huge win over Bristol City in a clash of the top two in the Championship. It is almost certain one of these two clubs will be in the top flight next season.
However, should they replace Reading for example they, like the Royals this season, will be the only club not backed by a men's Premier League club. It makes the challenge all that more difficult.
The pyramid needs a competitive Championship, not only to ensure we have compelling cup ties in both the Conti and FA Cup, but also to allow promoted teams to have a genuine chance of WSL survival. Many fans still want to see the WSL expanded in coming years and to do this we'll see even more teams coming from the second tier.
Lewes' big day against Man Utd was something to savour for fans of the women's game. But we need them to become more frequent rather than a rarity. The victorious manager Marc Skinner perhaps put it pest post-game.
"I hope we can give enough platform for them to keep shortening the gaps (between the two leagues)," Skinner said. "Because the bigger teams with more money will continue to rise."
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