Milwall 6-2 Sutton United
By Myles Thornton 8/1/24
Above: Millwall and Sutton United. Photo: Myles Thornton
Maizie Garwood stars as Millwall Lionesses turnover Sutton United Ladies.
By Myles Thornton at St Paul’s Sports Ground.
Millwall came from 2-0 down to win 6-2 in the LSE Regional League Cup thanks to substitute hat trick hero Maizi Garwood.
Millwall started the game on the backfoot, and after only 10 minutes, Sutton were a goal ahead through a really good strike by Holly Talbut Smith that bounced in front of the keeper and found it’s way into the back of the net.
Millwall’s play still didn’t improve though and entering the 23rd minute, Chloe Francis struck a stunning free kick to double Sutton United’s lead.
Joint managers Adam Rowland and Alex Russell made a double change on 28 minutes. Stef Paci and Maizi Garwood came on to replace midfield duo Shay Bennett and Maisie Joyce.
Millwall started to play so much better, and on 34 minutes Shannan Drewe got one back for the lionesses. She found herself with the ball just outside the area before she unleashed a beautiful shot into the top corner.
On 61 minutes, Chloe Burr came so close to drawing Millwall level from a really decent free kick but she just couldn’t bend it into the back of the net.
Millwall then had a great chance to equalisewhen Ellen Napper was brought down in the area. Garwood stepped up and slotted home to get her first goal of the game and equalise for the lionesses.
Just like that, Millwall were ahead, substitute Garwood headed in a good cross from Drewe’s corner to get the Lionesses’ third.
Heading into the final minute of the 90, Drewe put in another great cross from a corner, and it was headed in again, this time by Joyce to make it 4-2 to Millwall.
The referee added 15 minutes onto the end of an exciting game and after 8 of those Millwall added a fifth goal. Garwood got her hat trick to cap off a superb performance. It was a long range effort that found the bottom corner.
Then two minutes later fellow substitute Clementine Young added Millwall’s 6th. Ellen Napper worked well down the right hand side before putting a sublime ball into the area for Young who struck it into the net on her first team debut, being called up from the under 18’s side.
A fantastic second half effort from the lionesses see them head into the quarter finals of the LSE Regional League Cupwhere they will face Dartford away on Princes Park Stadium on Febuary 4th.
Lionesses manager Alex Russell had this to say.
“I thought it was a poor start to the game. Not necessarily tactically, just the application of the girls. We looked like a team that had been off for Christmas. We didn’t really put on a display which both I and they know they can do.
“We got them in at HT and all of the things we spoke about during the break, theycame out and done and we were superb in the second half.
“ I don’t like picking out individuals, but Maizi Garwood was sensational today and I’mdelighted for Clemmie making her first team debut and being rewarded with a goal. It’s the least she deserved.”
Millwall: Gmiterek, Jones, Huseyin, Bailey, Chapman, Payne (C), Napper, Joyce, Bennett, Drewe, Burr. Subs: Butler, Paci, Garwood, Young.
Scorers:, Drewe 34’, Garwood 70’,76’,98’, Joyce 90’, Young 100’.
Sutton: McNulty, Measures, South, Modak (C), Hearn, Colepio, Cutler, Francis, Spear,Talbut Smith, Malcom. Subs: Humphries, Hooper, Savage, Frances-Creaser, Bussey.
Scorers: Talbut Smith 10’, Francis 23’
Referee: Peter Worton
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