Two second-half goals from Nic Ciardini helped Lewes recover from being 2-0 down to make it six consecutive games unbeaten.Photos

Steve King named an unchanged side following the Rooks impressive 4-1 victory over Aveley four days previously, despite the return of Steve Robinson to the squad.

The hosts, who had lost their previous game 6-0 at AFC Hornchurch, started the game brightly and nearly went ahead when Staurt Robinson did well to block an effort from Mail Abdulai, after the winger had beaten Melvin Kamara to a cross from Luke Wanadio.

Tooting & Mitcham continued to have the majority of the play and only another fine save from Robinson kept the Rooks on level terms, as the goalkeeper just about got enough onto a powerful shot from Reece Hall to divert it round the post.

From the resulting corner, it took several Lewes defenders to scramble the ball of the line and eventually clear the danger.

This lucky escape seemed to galvanise the Rooks, who should really have taken the lead soon after when Nic Ciardini saw a close-range effort well saved by Simon Lehkyj after the goalkeeper had not been able to gather a low cross from Dwayne Lee effectively.

The last chance of the first half also fell to Lewes, who saw Paul Booth send a header from inside the six-yard box over the crossbar following a free-kick from Christian Nanetti.

Tooting & Mitcham started the second half well, and took the lead after 58 minutes. The goal was scored by Hall, who sent a low shot into the bottom corner after Robinson could only parry an effort from Abdulai as far as the edge of the penalty area.

Six minutes later, the hosts doubled their lead. Hall was the scorer once again, as he sent a superb volley from the right-hand angle of the penalty area across Robinson and into the bottom corner.

At this stage, the Lewes players could have let their heads drop and resign themselves to only their second defeat of the season. However, the result was exactly the opposite.

With 20 minutes remaining, the Rooks pulled a goal back when Ciardini finished calmly from close range after having the ball squared to him by Michael Malcolm.

Just two minutes later, Lewes were back on level terms. Ciardini was again the scorer, as his low shot from 25 yards appeared to take a deflection on its way into the bottom corner.

With 18 minutes remaining, there was a feeling among the impressive travelling support that the Rooks were capable of snatching three points which had seemed incredibly unlikely less than ten minutes previously.

Lewes went close through substitute Ian Draycott and Nanetti, who dragged a low shot across the six-yard box and curled a free-kick into the side-netting respectively. It then took a superb last-ditch challenge from Osa Obamwonyi to deny Ciardini, after the winger had latched onto a through-ball from Draycott.

The hosts very nearly scored a winner against the run of play during the final few minutes of normal time, as Robinson had to make an impressive save to keep out a deflected long-range effort from Jamie Byatt, before Joe O’Ceruill scuffed the rebound wide.

With the last kick of the game, the Rooks missed an excellent chance to pick up the three points. Malcolm was the unfortunate player to miss the opportunity, as he sent an effort from no more than two yards out over the crossbar after an excellent low cross from the left by Nanetti.

This was not a brilliant performance from Lewes, but a draw away from home against an established Ryman Premier Division side is not a bad result, especially after being 2-0 down. However, it is a case of what might have been after Malcolm’s late chance.

Impressive Lewes performances came from Christian Nanetti and Nic Ciardini.

Tooting & Mitcham United:

Lehkyj, Wanadio, O’Ceruill, Lovett, Obamwonyi, Ayodele (Palmer 89), Abdulai, Wilson, Byatt, Hall, Henry (McCullum 80).
Unused Subs: Hughes-Mason, Donaghey, Dove.
Booked: Ayodele, Byatt.

Lewes:

Stuart Robinson, Kamara, Hustwick, Sterling, Hamilton, Nanetti, Somner, Lee, Ciardini, Malcolm, Booth (Draycott 72).
Unused Subs: Steve Robinson, Adelakun, March, Watson.
Booked: Lee.

Referee: Mr Tony Goddard

Attendance: 273