03/2/10

Two hours of football still wasn't enough to find a winner of this evening's third round Senior Cup tie, and Lewes must now travel to Hastings for a replay next Tuesday.

A much-changed Lewes side battled hard against United who are currently second in the Ryman Premier League, and despite being reduced to ten men when Dan Royce was sent off 17 minutes from time, the Rooks held on for a draw after extra time.

A drab game got off to an exciting start when Lewes went ahead in the second minute after Kane Louis got on the end of winger George Jones' cross.

The sixteen year old was making his first team debut and impressed for the hour he was on the pitch in another example of the strength of the youth set-up at the Dripping Pan.

The home side only held the lead for 17 minutes though when Adrian Stone guided his header past Rikki Banks for the Hastings equaliser.

The game offered little for long periods and despite the man advantage, Hastings were unable to make their mark on the game.

Lewes sub Joe Keehan almost made his own with a maurauding run and shot seven minutes from time, but Lewes skipper Anthony Barness saved the day in the final minute clearing off the line to secure Tuesday night's replay at the Pilot Field, kick off 7.45pm.