Men's football news
Written by: Joe
Lewes FC Men completed a memorable double against Bognor Regis Town on Tuesday as a trio of late goals helped the Rooks secure a 4-1 win at the Dripping Pan, reports Will Hugall.
New signing Gianluca Botti scored within a minute of his Pan debut, before Jasper Mather levelled the scores following a mix-up at the back.
Lewes had to dig deep and remain patient as they sought a winner – and it finally came through Matty Warren’s wonder strike on 87 minutes.
The opened the floodgates for Botti to get his second in stoppage time, before Danny Bassett rocketed home a fourth with almost the last kick of the game.
The result places the Rooks back in the play-offs and within touching distance of leaders Dover Athletic, as attention now switches to Saturday’s FA Trophy clash with AFC Totton (3pm).
>> Buy Lewes FC vs AFC Totton tickets
Full debut and a goal
A chilly East Sussex evening embraced Craig Nelson’s side, who knew the threat of a Bognor team who picked up their first win in over a month by beating Bowers & Pitsea 1-0 at the weekend and were duly unchanged.
The Rooks, meanwhile, were keen to try something new with fresh signing Botti – who came off the bench in our last two away fixtures – handed a first start in attack.
Just 30 seconds into the game, Botti had his dream moment in front of the home fans.
Bognor decided to shoot from kick-off and so handed possession to goalkeeper Toby Bull, who picked out a beautiful pass to Shae Hutchinson over the shoulder of the away defence.
>> Highlights: Bognor vs Lewes
Hutchinson swept forward and squared to Botti, who gratefully tapped in to score potentially the fastest full-debut goal in Rooks history.
Bognor, however, were not deterred.
In the 10th minute, Bull was caught in possession at the edge of his box by Jasper Mather, and after a duel with Marcel McIntosh, Mather scrambled it over the line.
For the rest of the half, neither side could truly get into their rhythm.
Several quick turnovers saw the game dominated by the transition, and while Lewes were the slicker side, Bognor’s all-action approach also proved dangerous.
The only significant chance of this spell fell to Warren, who galloped down the right, cut inside and drilled a powerful effort at Ryan Hall.
Before the break, two half-chances came for the Rooks, with substitute Eddie Allsopp lifting a free-kick from the right onto the far post and then setting up Botti to lob Hall, only for the ball to dribble wide of the post.
Time for a change
As the sides returned for the second half, Bognor were the aggressors, with Bull making a strong low save after Dan Gifford broke into space.
Lewes responded. Marcus Sablier thrived from the freedom afforded to him after a change in formation and became the key player for a good 15 minutes as the Rooks began to string together some beautiful passes.
The midfielder’s twinkle toes and agility in the challenge allowed him to skip free on a couple of occasions, and he soon launched a 25-yard effort which Hall palmed away.
After the hour mark, it seemed Lewes’ luck would be rotten as the tireless Warren was denied by Bognor defender Amadou Jallow after driving in from the right.
The visitors almost took advantage, as in the space of two nerve-jangling minutes, Robbie Blake’s visitors were twice denied as Mather was played in by captain Calvin Davies and shut out by a fantastic Jerry Puemo goal-line block, and substitute Doug Tuck then struck the post when a corner fell to the edge of the box.
The late show
Lewes settled into their rhythm again, with their control of the ball becoming increasingly irresistible in the final ten minutes.
And, in the 87th minute, the deadlock that had existed since the 10th minute was finally broken, and in some style.
Warren ensured his exceptional performance would be the difference on the night with a moment of inspiration; a scorching 25-yard effort that flew past Hall into the top left corner after being teed up from the left by debutant Michael Elechi.
>> Highlights: Bognor vs Lewes
That unforgettable strike was enough to finally break Bognor’s resistance, with the walls tumbling down in added time.
In the 93rd minute, Botti got his second goal to seal his Player of the Match award when winning the ball from Hayden Gale and sliding a finish past Hall that went in off the left post.
Then, in the 95th minute, Danny Bassett matched Warren in the thunderbolt stakes, assisted by Tolu Ladapo as he sent a screaming 20-yard shot into the top left corner.
The result returns Lewes to fourth in the Isthmian League Premier Division table, where they are just four points behind leaders Dover Athletic.
Craig Nelson’s side remain unbeaten at home inside 90 minutes this season and will hope to continue their fantastic form this Saturday, when they host AFC Totton in the FA Trophy Second Round. Kick-off is at 3pm.
>> Buy Lewes FC vs AFC Totton tickets
Lewes: Bull; Enkh (Elechi, 81’), Puemo, McIntosh, Warren; Muirhead, Sablier; Bassett (C), Ghannam (Allsopp, 23’), Hutchinson (Ladapo, 88’); Botti (Antonio, 90+3’)
Unused: Mundele
Bognor Regis Town: Hall; Gale, Block, Jallow, Spurway; Davies (C), Woolston (Clark, 81’); Mather, Burgess (Tuck, 75’), Whyte (Higgs, 64’); Gifford
Unused: Edmonson, Kingswerk