First-half goals from Paul Booth and Alex Stavrinou helped Lewes progress into the quarter-finals of the Alan Boon Cup with an impressive victory over an in-form Metropolitan Police side.

The Rooks started brightly, and saw both Steve Robinson and Matt Somner go close in the opening ten minutes. Ian Draycott had a good chance to put Lewes ahead soon after this, when he sent a close-range volley over the crossbar after a good passing move in midfield.

Despite this impressive start, the hosts nearly took the lead against the run of play when Eddie Smith saw his header go just over the crossbar after a good run and cross from Jerome Walker.

This miss proved costly after 15 minutes, as the Rooks took the lead. Paul Booth was the scorer, lifting the ball over Jamie Butler in the Met Police goal after charging down a clearance from Duran Reynolds and beating the central defender to the loose ball in the penalty area.

Lewes were playing well and appeared to be controlling the pace of the game, with full-backs Malvin Kamara and Nic Ciardini getting forward well at every opportunity.

It was therefore a surprise when the hosts equalised after 31 minutes. It was a poor goal to concede from a Lewes perspective, as a corner from Sam Hurrell was flicked on at the near post and finished at the far post by an unmarked Walker.

This could have galvanised the Met Police, but instead it was the Rooks who regained the lead just three minutes later. Alex Stavrinou was the scorer, sending a half-volley from the penalty spot into the back of the net after the hosts defence were unable to clear a cross from Kamara to score his first goal for the club.

Lewes nearly extended their lead almost immediately, but Butler made an impressive save down to his left to keep out a powerful low shot from Booth.

The second half was uneventful in the most part, with the Met Police seeing a bit more of the ball than they did before the break, but being unable to break down a strong Lewes defence marshalled by the outstanding Robinson.

The introduction of Albert Jarrett with just over 20 minutes remaining saw the Rooks become a bit more of a threat going forward, with the pacey winger putting two or three excellent crosses into the penalty area.

Lewes very nearly made the game safe in the final five minutes, when a powerful run from Ciardini ended with the impressive left-back’s cross-shot being just too high for Booth in front of goal.

The hosts won a number of free-kicks and corners during the three minutes of injury-time, and should have sent the game to penalties in the final minute when Dan Gwyther scuffed a close-range shot just wide after the Lewes defence was unable to clear a set-piece.

In the most part, this victory was more comfortable than the score-line suggests for Lewes. The hosts scored against the run of play and were unable to create any real goalscoring opportunities until the final minute of injury-time.

To play so well against one of the in-form sides in the Ryman Premier Division certainly bodes well for the Rooks ahead of a busy festive period.

Impressive Lewes performances came from Steve Robinson, Nic Ciardini and Paul Booth, as well as an eye-catching cameo from Albert Jarrett.

Metropolitan Police:

Butler, Bryan (Taylor 69), Bourne (Cuthbert 85), Hurrell, Humphrey (Palmer 69), Reynolds, Walker, Smith, Wilson-Denis, Smith, Gwyther.
Unused Subs: Edwards.
Booked: Bourne, Smith.

Lewes:

Banks, Kamara (Hamilton 64), Ciardini, Somner, Robinson, Hustwick, Stavrinou, Harding, Malcolm, Booth, Draycott (Jarrett 69).
Unused Subs: Nanetti, Fenwick.
Booked: Kamara.

Referee: Mr P Georgiou 

Tom Harper