Penalty shoot-out heroics from Rikki Banks helped Lewes progress into the semi-finals of the Alan Boon Cup with a 5-4 penalty shoot-out win, after being held to a 1-1 draw by Ryman Division One North visitors AFC Sudbury.

Kick-off was delayed by 15-20 minutes due to weather and traffic problems preventing the visitors arriving from Suffolk on time, and shortly before kick-off it was announced on the official website that Steve King had left the club by mutual consent.

Both sides started the game slowly, with a deflected cross from Malvin Kamara which was tipped over by Danny Gay in the visitors goal being as close as the Rooks came to opening the scoring early on.

Sudbury gradually came into the game more as the half progressed, with Robbie Martin seeing a powerful shot parried by Rikki Banks at his near post, before Rhys Darg sent a half-volley from inside the penalty area just over the crossbar.

Despite not playing with any real fluency, Lewes continued to look dangerous when they got the ball down and passed it around in the midfield.

This tactic nearly worked twice in quick succession, as Michael Malcolm saw a low 20-yard shot hit the foot of the post after latching onto a pass from Harry Harding, before Malcolm turned provider to send Nic Ciardini through on goal. Unfortunately for the Rooks, the winger sent his effort from a tight angle just over the angle of post and bar at the near post.

Lewes were made to pay for these missed chances, as Sudbury took the lead after 39 minutes. Martin was the scorer, as he looped an effort from 30 yards over the head of Banks and into the far corner.

This galvanised the Rooks, who levelled just four minutes later. The goal was scored by Matt Somner, who sent a powerful header from a Christian Nanetti cross past Gay at his near post.

After a slightly disjointed first-half display, Lewes started the second half brightly and really took the game to the visitors.

They could have taken the lead inside the first couple of minutes of the second half, as substitute Albert Jarrett saw a close-range effort at the far post saved by the legs of Gay after a cross from Kamara had bounced through everyone in the middle.

Paul Booth and Harding were the next players to go close, sending efforts just wide and straight at Gay in quick succession.

The Rooks should then have been awarded a penalty, when a powerful run from Harding ended with him being bundled over in the penalty area. To the bemusement of the Lewes fans behind the goal though, only a corner was awarded.

A second goal for Lewes was beginning to look inevitable, as they saw Malcolm send an effort over the crossbar when clean through on goal, and a free-kick being awarded for a foul on Nanetti which seemed to take place several yards inside the penalty area.

The visitors were struggling to cope with the pressure they were being put under, and were very nearly the architects of their own downfall when Booth beat Gay to an under-hit back-pass and was only just beaten to the ball in front of goal by a Sudbury defender.

Despite all this Lewes pressure, Sudbury could have won the game with under ten minutes remaining when Nathan Clarke saw a far-post header from a free-kick superbly saved by Banks.

The Rooks ended the 90 minutes continuing to apply pressure, with Malcolm sending an effort when clean through on goal wide, Harding seeing a goal-bound shot from just inside the penalty area deflected wide and substitute Max Howell send a low effort just wide of the far post.

The game headed straight to penalties once the 90 minutes were up, with the spot-kicks being taken in front of the Philcox Stand.

Max Hustwick, Ian Draycott, Harry Harding and Nic Ciardini each scored their penalties, with captain Steve Robinson seeing his spot-kick superbly saved by Gay.

Similarly, Sudbury saw James Baker, Nathan Clarke, Richard Howell, and Danny Gay convert their spot-kicks, with Banks keeping out Danny Emmanuel’s penalty.

With the shoot-out reaching sudden death, Albert Jarrett kept his composure to score his penalty, before Banks saved Ryan Henshaw’s spot-kick to ensure Lewes’ progression into the semi-finals.

This was very much a game of two halves for Lewes, who were below-par before half-time, but were very impressive in the second half and could quite easily have won the game in normal time.

Impressive Lewes performances came from Rikki Banks, Malvin Kamara, Harry Harding and Albert Jarrett.

Lewes:

Banks, Kamara, Hamilton (Jarrett 42), Somner, Robinson, Hustwick, Ciardini, Harding, Malcolm, Booth (Draycott 74), Nanetti (M. Howell 81).
Unused Subs: Stavrinou, Leach.
Booked: None.

AFC Sudbury:

Gay, Dalby, Sloots, Martin, Clarke, Fox, R. Howell, Henshaw, Baker, Darg (Swallow 65), Emmanuel.
Unused Subs: Brown, Nicol, Tracey.
Booked: Baker.

Referee: Mr L Venamore

Tom Harper