Oxford United on top to beat Crawley Wasps
Midfielder Lancaster, playing as a striker, had equalised against her former club but Wasps still slumped to their first away league defeat since April 2016.
Sarah Wignall had Wasps’ first serious chance of the match, heading Rachel Palmer’s cross at Oxford keeper Rose Kite, while Tash Stephens found herself in an excellent scoring position but was denied by Kite at close range.
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Hide AdAt the other end, Wasps’ keeper Megen Lynch thwarted Taome Oliver with an excellent parry.
Oxford broke the deadlock after half an hour, when Wasps cleared a free-kick out to Mollie Peters, who fired past Lynch.
Wasps didn’t have to wait long for the equaliser, though, as Lancaster latched on to Naomi Cole’s free-kick to accurately poke home for her first goal since joining from Oxford this summer.
Two minutes before the break, Lynch kept the scores level with another fantastic save at point-blank range to deny Peters.
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Hide AdOxford though did go back in front midway through the second half. Kayleigh Hines floated in a free-kick from the left and after a short scramble in the box, Cat Beaver slotted into the net.
Two minutes later, Ellie Russell was unlucky not to pull Wasps level when her powerful header flew just over the crossbar.
Lauren Haynes confirmed the hosts’ win six minutes before full-time, the U’s skipper unleashing a shot from long-range.
Wasps welcome Watford to Horley Town on Sunday (October 11).
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Hide AdWasps: Lynch; Nash, James, Russell, Palmer; McIntyre, Cole; Wignall, Stow, Stephens (Talbut-Smith 62); Lancaster (Jackson 90).
Subs not used: Graves, Plewa.
Lauren Callaghan earned Crawley Wasps' Development Squad a creditable 2-2 draw with Herne Bay in the London & South East DIvision 1 South.
Wasps' third team had taken a half-time lead through Natalie Stephenson, who converted after Rosanne Fine's cross, but Herne Bay scored two quick goals in the second half to go in front.
However, Callaghan's fine goal - where she pinched the ball from a defender, cut inside and then finished with her right foot - secured the point.
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Hide AdWasps' Under-13s lost 5-2 at Pevensey & Westham, with Jasmine Smith and Tatiana Gomes on target. Imogen Beasley and Lucie Wormull scored but the Under-12s were beaten 3-2 by Crawley Down Gatwick.
Due to league rules, we can't print results for Under-11s or below.