Men's football news
Written by: Jack
Lewes produced a superb performance to record an impressive 3-1 win at local rivals Horsham. Reports Tom Harper.
Tony Russell made two changes to the side that lost 3-0 at home to Chatham in their previous game, with Bradley Pritchard and Ryan Gondoh replacing Kieran Murtagh and Ola Ogunwamide in the starting line-up.
Lewes started the game brightly and came close to taking an early lead, as a sweeping move down the right ended with Pritchard crossing for Kalvin Lumbombo-Kalala to shoot just wide at the far post.
The hosts soon began to pose a threat themselves though, with Lee Harding seeing a powerful strike take a deflection off Sanchez Ming on its way just over the bar.
Lewes continued to attack with purpose and took the lead on 19 minutes through Ayo Olukoga, whose long-range effort took a wicked deflection to wrong-foot former Rook Lewis Carey in the Horsham goal on its way into the back of the net.
The linesman bizarrely flagged for offside, with Olukoga’s strike appearing to quite clearly hit a defender rather than one of his team-mates on the way through, but was promptly overruled by referee Stephen Hawkes to ensure the Lewes celebrations could continue.
Horsham responded well and were level just nine minutes later, a clever ball down the right finding Charlie Hester-Cook, who sent over a superb low cross for Daniel Ajakaiye to finish at the far post.
This galavanised the hosts, who saw Ajakaiye force a fine save from Nathan Harvey after former Lewes midfielder James Hammond had done well to win the ball back high up the pitch, before the unmarked Isaac Philpot could only head a Richards corner wide at the far post.
Lewes made the most of this let-off by regaining their lead seven minutes before half-time, Gondoh winning the ball back high up the pitch with a superb challenge on Jack Brivio, allowing Chris Whelpdale to round Carey and slot the ball into the empty net.
Horsham started the second half on the front foot, with Jack Mazzone just failing to connect with a Richards cross in front of goal and Hammond firing narrowly wide from the edge of the area as they looked to level the scores for a second time.
Apart from these early chances, Lewes were keeping the hosts at arms length, using the ball well and always looking for opportunities to create opportunities on the break.
Richards looked the most likely for the hosts as the half progressed, with his cross being met by a powerful volley from Ajakaiye that flew over the bar.
Lewes came close to adding a third goal in unorthodox circumstances, with Carey having to be alert to claw a Marcus Sablier corner away from almost on the line.
Horsham nearly made the most of this within minutes, as Harding saw a powerful strike come back off the post before Lucas Rodrigues was bravely denied on the rebound by Harvey.
The game was becoming more stretched as the hosts continued to push for an equaliser, which created more space for Lewes on the break, with Olukoga exchanging passes with Whelpdale before firing a gilt-edged chance wide.
The Rooks scored a third goal to secure all three points with two minutes remaining, as a rapid counter-attack ended with Olukoga finding substitute Archie Tamplin, who finished past Carey and into the bottom corner to send the travelling fans into raptures.
Lewes saw out the closing stages comfortably to record a superb win against their promotion-chasing hosts and continue their impressive record in Sussex derbies this season.
The Rooks return to European action on Tuesday when they welcome KSK Beveren to the Pan in the Fenix Trophy, kick-off at 7.45pm.
Horsham: Carey, Harding, Barker (Kavanagh 89), Hester-Cook, Brivio, Philpot, Hammond, Myles-Meekums (Tuck 72), Mazzone (Rodrigues 71), Ajakaiye, Richards.
Unused Sub: El-Abd.
Booked: Harding, Hammond.
Lewes: Harvey, Ming, Elliott, Penney, Oguntayo, Olukoga, Pritchard, Sablier (Tamplin 80) (Murtagh 89), Gondoh (Leahy 83), Lumbombo-Kalala, Whelpdale.
Unused Subs: Ogunwamide, Wood.
Booked: Elliott, Sablier.
Attendance: 1,425