28/3/09

An eventful afternoon at Forest Green saw Lewes end the game with nine men and a 4-1 defeat, despite taking an early lead.

Joe Keehan popped up to score his sixth goal of the season, and claim his place as Lewes’ top scorer, with a fifth minute effort from the edge of the area in the Rooks first attack.

Lewes were coping well with the Forest Green pressure but as the heavens opened, referee Wayne Barrett gave the home side a penalty, harshly adjudging Anthony Barness to have fouled Andy Mangan, despite the attacker being suspiciously offside and the defender definitely touching the ball.

Barness was dismissed and Mangan converted the kick, but the deficit was increased before half time with Lee Ayres header at the far post.

Rikki Banks coped admirably with Rovers’ efforts but was angry that their third goal was allowed to stand when Mangan scored from close range having possibly strayed offside.

Stefan Cox became the third Lewes player to be dismissed in two games when he was sent off for stamping on Paul Lloyd, and the young Lewes side’s attempts to get something from the game became a hopeless cause.

Mangan completed his hat trick as the game drew to a close, but it was a heroic effort from the visitors who ended the game with two thirds of their players having stepped up from the youth team.