Men's football news
Written by: Joe
Lewes boss Tony Russell reckons summer signing Deon Moore will get his “Ollie Tanner moment” and soon show the Rooks fans what he’s truly capable of.
Moore has already scored four goals in nine appearances since joining in the summer and opened the scoring in Saturday’s 4-2 victory over Enfield Town.
The forward, who started his career at Peterborough United, will seek to light up the Dripping Pan on Tuesday night when the Rooks host Aveley.
Russell has a track record of bringing through young stars, with Ollie Tanner having moved to Cardiff in the summer one season after arriving at the Pan from Bromley.
And the boss is confident that with a bit more time he could have another one of the league’s best players on his hands.
“Deon needs to have that day. The same Ollie got at Margate. If he does then we could have a serious player on our hands,” says Russell.
“We’re getting promising young players who need a step up into our club and we’re working with them, improving their football but also their emotional states.
“We did it before with Ollie – everyone remembers the end story with Ollie, but at the start of his time with Lewes he wasn’t great. But remember that game away to Margate, when he just clicked? That’s what we look for in players.
“And that’s what we hopefully have with Deon. I’ve been really backing him and speaking to him a lot recently, seeing what’s going on around him. Deon’s a very deep thinker and can beat himself up a bit. He had it all very young and we’ve had to build him up.”
‘His ability just takes over’
Russell certainly knows the value of a fan favourite and believes Moore can come to entertain Rooks supporters on a weekly basis, just as Tanner did from the flank.
“We’ve used him as a wide forward and he’s learning more from that – about pressing, where he needs to stand, how to keep shape, what pockets he needs to get into,” says Russell.
“The more we work with Deon and the more games he plays, the better he gets.
“I can almost see Deon thinking when he’s standing there, working out the best position to be in. Ollie used to do it. Once he gets that right his ability just takes over. I don’t think we’ve even seen half of what he can do.”
‘A wonderful technique’
With four goals to his name already this season, Moore will hope to grow his tally when the Rooks face Aveley tonight. And Russell reckons the supporters have seen nothing yet.
“Deon’s goal against Sevenoaks is a perfect example of what he can do,” says the boss.
“He just switches on, whizzes past three and clips it into the corner. That’s what we see in training every week – his finishing is exceptional. But at the moment he gets to games and he keeps thrashing at things, sending shots over the bar.
“We just need to keep those emotions in check, because he has such a wonderful technique. He puts himself under so much pressure because he wants to do well for us, for me, for the club, and if we can get his confidence to be as high as his ability, Deon could take on teams way above our league.”
Lewes FC vs Aveley tickets
The match on Tuesday kicks off at 7:45pm. You can buy Lewes FC tickets for the game online and skip the queue at the gate. Online ticket prices are as follows:
Adults – £12
Concessions – £8
Kids U16 – Free
Beach Huts – £110
Photo: James Boyes