01/11/11 - Rooks 2:0 Margate
Goals from Dominic Sterling and George Nicholas helped Lewes get back to winning ways with a hard-fought victory at The Dripping Pan against a Margate side who had previously been unbeaten away from home.
Steve King made two changes to the side which had lost 4-0 at home to AFC Hornchurch in their previous game, with Dominic Sterling and Ian Draycott effectively replacing Max Noble and Christian Nanetti in the starting line-up.
The Rooks started the game brightly and took the lead after 18 minutes, when Dominic Sterling scored his first goal for the club from close range after a Michael Malcolm corner was not cleared by the Margate defence.
This goal galvanised Lewes, who began to play some good football and were unlucky not to double their lead when a low Nic Ciardini shot from the edge of the penalty area was deflected wide.
However, Margate were looking dangerous themselves going forward and nearly equalised when a deep cross-shot from the right-hand side by Laurence Ball floated just over the crossbar.
The Rooks continued to threaten from set-pieces though, with George Nicholas seeing an effort scrambled away by Simon Overland in the Margate goal, and Malcolm just being beaten to a deflected cross from Steve Robinson by a last-ditch challenge after another corner was not dealt with effectively.
Lewes then had an excellent opportunity to score a second goal just before half-time, but saw Malcolm drag his shot wide when clean through on goal after a clever flick from Paul Booth.
The home side were very nearly made to pay for this missed opportunity, as Fabian Speiss made an excellent save at the feet of Curtis Robinson when the goalkeeper appeared to be stranded on the ground.
The visitors started the second half brightly and forced Speiss into a fine save from a long-range effort by Richard Avery.
Margate should really have equalised soon after when Kwesi Appiah was allowed to turn from two yards out after a knock-down from a corner, only to see his effort somehow go over the crossbar.
Speiss was called into action again moments later, although this was a more comfortable save for the impressive goalkeeper as he held a low shot from Curtis Robinson.
The visitors continued to dominate and saw Dan Stubbs go close twice in quick succession, first seeing a low shot hit the foot of the post after a deep free-kick from Ball had not been cleared, and then sending an effort from the edge of the penalty area just wide.
In between these two opportunities for Margate was a rare attack from Lewes, who saw Ciardini have a shot brilliantly blocked by Ball after latching onto a pass from Steve Robinson.
Speiss was continuing to thwart Margate as they looked to find an equaliser, this time saving bravely at the feet of Appiah when the striker was clean through on goal.
Despite these chances for the visitors, Lewes made the game safe with eleven minutes remaining. Nicholas was the scorer, as he sent a brilliant left-foot effort from 25 yards out into the far corner.
The visitors continued to attack though, and thought they had pulled a goal back when Curtis Robinson scored with a far-post header from a Stubbs free-kick, only for the linesman to rule it out for offside.
The Rooks nearly scored what would have been an undeserved third goal during injury time, when Ciardini beat several defenders and saw his effort from a tight angle well saved by Overland at his near post.
This was not a brilliant display from Lewes, but the important thing was to get back to winning ways after the disappointing result against AFC Hornchurch three days previously.
Impressive Lewes performances came from Fabian Speiss, Steve Robinson, Dominic Sterling, George Nicholas and Nic Ciardini.
Lewes: Speiss, Hamilton, Sterling, Somner, S. Robinson, Hustwick, Draycott, Nicholas, Malcolm (Nanetti 83), Booth, Ciardini.
Unused Subs: Fenwick, Howell.
Booked: S. Robinson.
Margate: Overland, Ball, Hill, Avery, Beales, Pooley, Stubbs, Corneille, Bradbrook (C. Robinson 26), Appiah, Johnson (Burchell 83).
Unused Subs: Cloke, Pulman, Smelt.
Booked: Beales.
Referee: Mr A Slaughter
Tom Harper
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