Men's football news
Written by: Joe
A late Danny Bassett goal earned Lewes a 1-1 draw after a late siege against Bowers & Pitsea at the Dripping Pan on Saturday, reports Jayden Broderick.
Despite having more of the ball, Lewes weren’t able to properly test the Bowers defence in the first half and struggled going forward before Luke Reeve scored for the away side from a corner.
The Rooks continuously put pressure late in the game but were held firm by a solid goalkeeping performance and a resolute backline, before captain Bassett scored deep into stoppage time.
The captain was in the right place to convert Calvin Ekpiteta’s pass with just seconds on the clock.
Lewes went into this match looking to end a run of poor form having not won a game in their last eight matches, recently coming off a 2-1 loss against neighbours Whitehawk.
Bowers & Pitsea also come into this match in a rut of form, sitting deep in the relegation zone after having won one of their last 13 games.
Craig Nelson made five changes from their loss in midweek, with defender Jack Meeres making his debut after signing earlier in the week and Hassan Jalloh being given his full debut for the Rooks.
Lewes came close to scoring in the ninth minute after a Jalloh cross from the right flank found Marcus Sabiler, who got a firm connection onto his half-volley, which forced Bowers keeper David Hughes into a full-stretched save.
The hosts enjoyed their confident start, having plenty of the ball in the final third, and were able to put the ball into the box many times through set pieces, but the match soon devolved into a struggle to break the Bowers defensive line. Lewes just couldn’t create chances that truly threatened the away side.
In the 38th minute, a low, whipped cross from the advancing Meeres found Bassett in the box, but a rushed swing from the Lewes captain meant he couldn’t get any proper contact on the ball.
Lewes finally tested the goal again in the 41st minute, with Ladapo finding himself through on the left flank, but his shot wasn’t able to beat Hughes.
Just before the half-time whistle, Lewes went on the break from a Bowers free kick, with Jalloh laying it off for Tolu Ladapo, who squares it to Lewis Finney and then Sabiler, who couldn’t keep his shot down from close.
Lewes went into the second half hoping to find the opener, but it was Bowers who took the lead in the 57th minute after a short corner ended up with the ball fumbling its way through to Luke Reeve at the far post, who squeezed it past Toby Bull.
In an effort to reply quickly, an onrushing Izzy Jones crossed to Alfie Allen in the 63rd minute – but his deft touch didn’t fool Hughes. Allen had another shot on target from range in the 68th minute, but again the shot failed to trouble the goalkeeper.
A brilliant pass from Allen through onto Shae Hutchinson in the 72nd minute broke the Bowers defensive line and left Hutchinson through on goal. He rounded Hughes and left him beaten, however the angle and his balance caused his shot to miss the goal entirely.
Lewes kept chipping away and pushed as many bodies forward as possible in search of an equaliser. They came close in the 81st minute after a Bassett flick put Ekpiteta through, however Hughes was again there to save the effort.
In the 91st minute, a clearance from a Lewes corner found Meeres on the edge of the box. The debutant came agonizingly close to a dream goal, as his shot ricocheted off the crossbar.
Finally, right at the death in the 94th minute, Ekpiteta broke through on the right flank, squared it to Bassett, where the captain beat Hughes to equalise for Lewes.
The Rooks, however, left it too late to try to find a winner and instead had to make do with a point.
The draw keeps Lewes in 13th in the Isthmian Premier League. Pitts and co. travel to table-toppers Dover Athletic on Tuesday.
Lewes FC XI: Bull, Jones, Meeres, Warren, Sabiler, Bassett, Jalloh, Finney, Ladapo, Allen, Spinks
Subs: Kaiser, Antonio, Nano, Hutchinson, Ekpiteta
Words: Jayden Broderick