01/2/09

A spirited display from Lewes, which included their first goal of 2009 was not enough to overcome Oxford United at the Kassam Stadium this afternoon.

In front of the largest crowd of the season for a Lewes match - at 4595, more than the combined total of Lewes’ last 5 home league attendances –the visitors silenced all but the 50 Rooks fans when Joe Keehan’s 20 yard shot took a deflection on its way to the back of the Oxford net.

United responded as expected and were soon level when Adam Murray’s free kick got the better of keeper Rikki Banks to draw the scores level.

Keehan was to feature again in the second half when he was fouled in the area for a penalty, but with Michael Standing missing through injury, Elliott Charles took on the kick but saw it gratefully collected by Oxford keeper Billy Turley.

The missed penalty galvanised Oxford and their supporters and with a welcome point within touching distance, Lewes let it slip away when Luke Foster headed home from a corner with eight minutes left.

There was still time for Shaun Wilkinson to be sent off for a headbutt, but despite the scoreline, it was another competent display from the Rooks.

There was better news from the Under 18 side who reached the County Cup Final following a 2-1 win over Horsham. Goals from Scott Manning and Arron Redman ensured a safe passage and a game against either  Eastbourne Borough or Worthing on April 2nd at Lancing.

This is Lewes’s second final of the season, with the Ladies in action at Lancing a fortnight earlier in the Ladies County Cup Final against Brighton & Hove Albion.

The first team will hope to emulate the feat of the other teams when they play Horsham at Worthing FC on Wednesday 4th Feb for a place in the Senior Cup semi final.