Men's football news
Written by: DanielL
Ian Gayle and Ryan Bernal found the net for Lewes FC men as Bradley Pritchard’s side were held to a 2-2 draw at home to Ramsgate.
The Rooks took the lead twice in a back-and-forth game, but had to settle for a single point as the visitors from Kent replied with two equalisers.
It was the first encounter between the two sides since 2018, considering Ramsgate’s recent promotion to the Isthmian League Premier Division as 2024-25 South East champions.
On the occasion of Lewes FC celebrating its 140th birthday, the home side made the brightest start, with Bernal and Charlie Walker both finding space to shoot in the Ramsgate box inside six minutes.
A breakthrough occurred in the 17th minute when Perri Iandolo’s corner was met with a trademark thumping header into the top-left corner from Rooks captain Ian Gayle.
With momentum in their favour, Lewes continued to attack and created multiple chances to increase their lead.
However, after those weren’t converted, Ramsgate started having more of the ball and experienced their first clear-cut chance on the half-hour mark, Rooks keeper Louis Rogers saving Joe Taylor’s shot from close range.
The visitors even had the ball in Rogers’ net in the 37th minute, but the referee had already blown his whistle for a foul on the defence.
A free kick delivery from the left then caused havoc in the Lewes penalty area, Rogers making a point-blank save and Clement Asiedu backing up his keeper with a courageous block off the line.
After a series of close shaves, Ramsgate equalised in the 45th minute when Alfie Paxman’s cross was headed in from six yards by captain Tijan Jadama.
Lewes manager Bradley Pritchard made one change at half-time, Ansu Janneh coming on for his club debut after signing from Carshalton Athletic during the week.
Both sides forged good scoring chances in the second half, and took turns to rattle the crossbar.
Ramsgate had the first such opportunity when Isthmian League Premier Division top scorer Paxman saw his deflected effort strike the woodwork.
Lewes’ turn came in the 63rd minute when a high cross from the right-hand side found Jack Burchell, who demonstrated great technique to volley the ball within inches of a wonder goal.
Bernal then converted that renewed attacking impetus into a 2-1 lead in the 77th minute, the no.3 unleashing a crisp strike from the corner of the penalty area.
However, Ramsgate’s response was almost immediate, Joe Taylor bundling the ball home to level the scores against the club for which he scored 70 times in 89 games.
Both sides continued to push for a winner in a frantic closing 10 minutes of end-to-end football, but neither managed to claim all three points.
‘We should have adapted and weathered the storm, taking the sting out of it in the first five minutes after scoring,’ reflected Lewes men’s manager Bradley Pritchard.
‘Yes, it’s frustrating, but we’ll keep working on it at the training ground.
‘We’ll try to see those mistakes and fix them. It doesn’t happen overnight.
‘We’re quite expansive and attacking. You maybe risk losing a part of that to be able to defend better, but then you need to be wary of defending too much. It’s a real balance.’
Lewes men make a swift return to action when they travel to St Albans City on Tuesday, 23rd September.
That date falls on the 140th anniversary of the club’s 1885 formation, which is being celebrated across this weekend’s pair of home fixtures for the men’s and women’s teams.
Lewes: Rogers, Asiedu, Bernal, Iandolo, Gayle ©, Morgan, Walker (Harley 86’), Hamouchene (Janneh 46’), Christmas (Chadwick 78’), West, Burchell
Subs not used: Erskine, Andrews
Booked: Burchell
Ramsgate: Prall, Barnes (Garrett 74’), Brown, Clifford, Bioletti (Gard 65’), May, Paxman, B-Williams (Jones 18’), Munday, Jadama ©, Taylor
Subs not used: Jackson, Todd
Booked: Jadama
Player of the match: Ryan Bernal
Referee: Jordan McRitchie
Assistants: Stephen Hughes, Arif Sahin
Attendance: 706