Lewes had to be content with a point from a competitive encounter against Bury Town at The Dripping Pan.

Steve King made two changes to the side from the previous game at Harlow Town, with Michael Malcolm and Jamie Cade essentially replacing Dominic Sterling and Matt Somner in the starting line-up.

The Rooks started the game the better side and took the lead after 21 minutes, with Ian Draycott sending a diving header at the far post into the back of the net after the visitors goalkeeper Marcus Garnham inexplicably dropped a deep cross from George Nicholas.

This goal galvanised Lewes, who saw Bury Town captain Tom Bullard flick a Christian Nanetti free-kick away from Michael Malcolm at the far post, before Draycott saw a cross-shot deflected just over the crossbar.

Bury Town began to come into the game as the half wore on though, and were unfortunate to see Billy Clarke denied by a fine save at his near post from Fabian Spiess. From the resulting corner, Spiess did well to hold onto a close-range effort from Bullard.

The visitors were continuing to commit players forward, and nearly equalised when Sam Reed sent a low shot just wide of the far post.

However, they did find an equaliser one minute before half-time. The goal was eventually scored from close-range by Kieran Leabon, with this coming after a deep free-kick saw an effort hit the crossbar and another attempt on goal scrambled off the line.

The second half started as the first half finished, with the visitors on top.

They nearly took the lead about ten minutes into the second half when Leabon slid a cut-back from Sam Reed just over the crossbar after a counter attack. Soon after, Spiess had to be at his best to make a superb save from point-plank range to keep out a far-post volley from Lee Reed.

The Rooks still looked dangerous on the rare occasions they found space in and around the penalty area though, with Jamie Cade sending an effort from a tight angle just inside the penalty area over the crossbar after latching onto a through-ball from Nanetti.

The game swung in Lewes’ favour after just over an hour, when Bury midfielder Danny Cunningham was shown a second yellow card for not standing ten yards away from the same free-kick twice in quick succession.

If anything, this seemed to galvanise the visitors, who saw Sam Reed force another brilliant save from Spiess low down to his left, with Leabon sending the rebound into the side-netting.

The Rooks were being restricted predominantly to half-chances by the visitors resolute defence, with Nanetti sending a shot comfortably wide after cutting inside from the right wing.

On the one occasion the ball did find its way to a Lewes player in space in the penalty area, Draycott scuffed his low cross-shot straight at Garnham at his near post.

The best chances during the final five minutes both fell to the visitors, with Sam Reed sending an excellent effort from the edge of the penalty area just wide of the far post, before Lee Smith saw his 25-yard free-kick acrobatically tipped over the crossbar by Spiess.

The closest the Rooks came to finding what would have been an undeserved late winner saw substitute Dominic Sterling have a header from a deep free-kick comfortably saved by Garnham.

Lewes will be disappointed not to have picked up all three points today, although the organisation of the Bury Town defence made it very difficult for the Rooks to break them down at any point.

Impressive Lewes performances came from Fabian Spiess, Steve Robinson and Christian Nanetti.

Lewes:

Spiess, Hamilton (Sterling 82), Ciardini, Nicholas, Robinson, Hustwick, Malcolm, Cade, Draycott, Booth (Howell 84), Nanetti.
Unused Subs: Watson.
Booked: Hamilton, Ciardini, Nicholas.

Bury Town:

Garnham, Short, Hunter, Clarke (Nurse 81), Nunn, Bullard, Smith, Leabon (Sands 90), S. Reed (Hipperson 93), L. Reed, Cunningham.
Unused Subs: Coulson.
Booked: Hunter, Clarke, L. Reed, Cunningham.
Sent off: Cunningham.
 
Referee: Mr W Bull

Tom Harper