A professional performance saw Lewes record a comfortable victory over Crawley Down and move into the Ryman League Cup Third Round.

Steve King made four changes to the side which had won 2-1 at Canvey Island in their previous league match, with Lewis Hamilton, Jamie Cade, Ian Draycott and Paul Booth effectively replacing Dominic Sterling, Christian Nanetti, Michael Malcolm and Leon Constantine in the starting line-up.

The Rooks started brightly and forced Crawley Down goalkeeper Michael Hunter into three saves in the opening exchanges, with Jamie Cade seeing his low shot comfortably saved and Ian Draycott seeing two efforts well kept out by the former Lewes goalkeeper.

Despite this impressive start from Lewes, it was Crawley Down who had the ball in the net soon after, but Jack Page’s close-range effort was ruled out for offside.

The Rooks made their first-half dominance count when they took the lead after 31 minutes. The goal was scored by Paul Booth, who sent a well-placed header from a Nic Ciardini cross into the bottom corner.

Booth went close to adding a second goal soon after, as he saw his flicked effort from a Draycott cross tipped onto the crossbar by Hunter.

After 38 minutes, Lewes doubled their lead through Cade, who sent a close-range header from an in-swinging free-kick from Max Noble past Hunter to put the Rooks in control.

Lewes started the second half well and increased their lead further after 52 minutes. Draycott was the scorer, as he sent a superb curling effort from 20 yards into the top corner.

The Rooks continued to control the game after this goal, with Lewis Hamilton’s mis-hit cross hitting the crossbar and Draycott sending a tame effort from just inside the penalty area straight at Hunter.

Lewes added a fourth goal after 66 minutes and saved the best until last, as a sensational counter-attack which started with a fine save from Liam Mitchell ended with Noble rounding Hunter and rolling the ball into the empty net.  

The pace of the game noticeably decreased after this goal, with Crawley Down seeing more of the ball and nearly pulling a goal back through Luke Blewden when he sent a free header from a corner just wide.

This was a very professional performance from the Rooks against a Crawley Down side who have began to pick up a few points in the Ryman Division One South over the last weeks.

Impressive Lewes performances came from Steve Robinson, Nic Ciardini, Jamie Cade and Ian Draycott.

Crawley Down: Hunter, Hollyoak, Jones, Saunders, Mitchell (Harding 46), Page, Dodd (Burton 46), Nyang (Swetman 67), O’Neill, Blewden, Logan.
Unused Subs: Odunaike, Fox.
Booked: Nyang, Hollyoak.

Lewes: Mitchell, Hamilton (Sterling 63), Robinson, Hustwick, Ciardini, Nicholas, Somner, Noble, Cade, Draycott, Booth (Malcolm 67).
Unused Subs: None.
Booked: None.

Referee: Mr Simeon Potter

Tom Harper