Men's football news
Written by: Joe
Lewes FC earned safe passage into the next round of the Sussex Senior Cup with a 3-1 win over Three Bridges at a wet and windy Dripping Pan on Tuesday.
Goals from Maliq Morris and Tolu Ladapo set the Rooks on course for victory in the first half.
Noel Leighton got one back for the visitors on the half-hour mark, but an own goal midway through the second half restored Lewes’ two-goal advantage.
Lewes came into the match off the back of their first defeat of the season at Potters Bar. Boss Craig Nelson opted to make a number of changes, with youngsters Leo Ginger and Christo Nano on the bench for the first time.
Lewes started the stronger and Shae Hutchinson almost had the ball in the back of the net within the first minute, but Luke Glover got down to his low shot.
Hutchinson was there again six minutes later to force an identical save out of Glover as Lewes sought an early opener. It came on 12 minutes through Morris, who pounced on a Three Bridges mistake after a team press and slid home his effort.
Shortly after it was 2-0 when Morris turned provider. He delivered a pinpoint challenge to win the ball back and distribute to Ladapo, who rocketed a shot from distance past Glover.
Three Bridges came back into the game after the two goals, with Leighton halving the deficit with a neat finish on the half-hour mark. Only a strong Jordan Olds palm prevented Leighton from scoring again before the break.
Chances were hard to come by in the second half but Izzy Jones forced a stunning save from Glover on 61 minutes, while at the other end Bradley Francis went close for Three Bridges with a shot from a tight angle.
Pitts then rang the change, with Ginger one of three to come on. Lewes got the third goal on 74 minutes – an own goal diverted in from a Rooks corner.
That would prove to be the last of the goalmouth action for Lewes, although the fans were kept entertained by 15-year-old Nano’s touches in midfield. The substitute appeared to settle well into Nelson’s set-up, spinning away from challenges and distributing comfortably.
Next up for Lewes is Saturday’s home clash against Bracknell Town in the FA Trophy third qualifying round (3pm). Tickets are available to buy at an online discount ahead of the game.
Lewes XI: Olds, Puemo, Enkh, Warren, Kaiser, Morris, Ghannam, Hutchinson, Morris, Ladapo, Jones.
Subs: Bassett, Ginger, Williams, Nano, Muirhead.