Men's football news
Written by: Joe
Lewes FC Men put on a spectacle on the last day of the Isthmian Premier League season against Cray Wanderers, as a league debut goal from Christo Nano was enough to secure a 4-3 win and give Craig Nelson the perfect send off, reports Christopher Coleman.
In a frenetic game, Marcus Sablier’s low finish 25 minutes in got the Rooks level quickly after a goal from Cray’s Soul Kader, before Jack Meeres put Lewes in front from a corner with a bullet header. Bobby Unwin’s low shot gave the home side a two-goal cushion midway through the second half, only for Victor Damyanov to respond two minutes later.
Then came the magic moment. It was quite the entrance for 16-year-old Nano, who came on with seven minutes remaining and within moments had powered home a fourth from 25 yards with his first touch in the league. Cray could only manage one more from Joshua Williams before the whistle blew on the 2024/25 season.
Lewes were looking to end the campaign on a positive note, especially for manager Nelson, who was taking charge of his final game. The Rooks were up against a team they had already beaten 3-1 in the reverse fixture back in August.
There were two changes to the Rooks lineup, with Izzy Jones and Hamilton Antonio replaced by Tolu Ladapo and Parish Muirhead. Cray Wanderers also had two changes, with Ezechukwu Ebuzoeme II and Tom Bonner out for Freddie Warwick and Bobby Parkes.
Toby Bull was forced into the first save of the game on three minutes, getting his body in the way of a Kader shot. Bull then had to be brave to claw away the ball before Kader got on the end of it, which resulted in the pair colliding with each other.
Lewes had their first shot on 18 minutes via a long-range effort from Unwin, but his shot was straight at Cray keeper Shaun Rowley. At the other end, Cray took the lead on 23 minutes, when Kader capitalised on an under-hit back pass from Matt Warren to tap in.
The lead would last merely minutes, when a pass from Unwin found Sablier in the box, in which he turned brilliantly and powered into the net with conviction to the delight of the home supporters.
Lewes immediate sought another goal but a curled free kick into the box, which was aimed at Josh Spinks, was just a tad too high. Soon after there came two great opportunities one after the other, first a blocked shot from Alfie Allen and then a blocked cross shot from Warren.
Lewes’ pressure finally told on 39 minutes, though, with Unwin’s cross powerfully headed home by defender Meeres.
Shae Hutchinson almost made it three before the break after having a through ball fed to him, but the shot was dragged wide. The Rooks would make it to the break ahead, and on Nelson’s farewell game, the day was going entirely to plan.
First-half scorer Sablier almost turned provider on 50 minutes, but Hutchinson’s effort was well saved by Rowley. Hutchinson then fond Unwin, only for that effort to find the goalkeeper too. Centre-back Spinks then went for the spectacular from a corner after being left unmarked in the box, but his attempted scissor kick went wide.
Lewes did get their third on 69 minutes, though, as Unwin chopped inside and sent in a low drive that clipped the far post and in – a delightful strike in front of the almost 1,000 supporters at the Pan.
Cray his back immediately though, when Kader dribbled round Bull and squared it to Damyanov, who finished from close range to cut the Rooks’ lead.
Lewes responded well and evidently wanted their two-goal cushion back. Cue Nano’s arrival. The 16-year-old, who made his Rooks debut in the Sussex Senior Cup in October, came on in the 83rd minute. Mere moments after entering the pitch, he rifled in a great goal from outside the box. His first goal in senior football, on his league debut, and one he’ll never forget.
Nano’s ended up being crucial as Cray made it 4-3 in the last minute, when a shot which cannoned off Bull’s left post fell nicely at the feet of Williams, who powered a half-volley home from close range.
Cray then piled on the pressure in added time as they sought an equaliser but the Rooks defence held firm.
In the end, Lewes secured the three points to give Nelson the perfect send-off. The Rooks end the season in 13th place, only three points behind Cray in 10th.
Thank you for all your incredible support this season. We’ll see you back at the Pan in 2025/26!
Lewes: Bull, Ojemen, Warren, Sablier (Nano 82’), Ladapo (Allsopp 75’), Hutchinson, Allen, Meeres, Muirhead (Antonio 65’), Spinks, Unwin
Subs: Jones, Antonio, Allsopp, Nano, Ekpiteta
Words: Christopher Coleman