Men's football news
Written by: Joe
Lewes made it four wins from five on Saturday with goals from Bobby Unwin, Danny Bassett, Parish Muirhead, and Matty Warren proving too much for Cray Valley PM, as the Rooks ran out 4-1 victors at the Dripping Pan, reports Christopher Coleman.
Craig Nelson’s side bounced back from the previous weekend’s 4-0 defeat to Canvey Island in great fashion, with Unwin scoring just four minutes in from a Peter Ojemen cross. He then turned provider for captain Bassett three minutes later.
Cray Valley got one back from the penalty spot but Lewes wrapped the game up late on through from Muirhead’s strike – a scramble in the box that came to him to fire home – before Warren converted from a corner in added time.
Lewes came into the game looking for an instant response from the defeat to Canvey Island last weekend, whereas Cray Valley had grabbed a win off Dover Athletic.
Lewes made one change from the previous weekend’s game, with Hamilton Antonio coming in for Ethan Kaiser. Alfie Allen also returned to the fold, starting on the bench. Cray also made one change to their starting lineup, with Dan Bowry coming in for the injured Tom Beere.
The opener came after only four minutes, when a run and cross from Ojemen found Unwin in the box to tap home from close range.
Cray Valley’s Freddie Parker almost produced an instant response, but his effort went wide of Toby Bull’s goal. Then, two minutes later, Unwin then turned provider. A through ball found him on the right, and his cross fell perfectly at the feet of captain Bassett to fire home. The Rooks’ recovery from last week had got off to the perfect start.
Lewes went hunting a third. A clearance from Cray Valley came straight to Muirhead but his long-range shot went over the bar, and a minute later Ollie Starkey – recently signed up for the rest of the season – was found by Unwin but the ball was cleared right before he got a chance to shoot.
Soon after, Marcus Sablier’s mazy run earned Lewes a free kick on the left, just outside the penalty area, but an attempt from Warren went just over the crossbar.
Cray Valley’s first shot on target fell to early substitute Coombes but it did not trouble Toby Bull, and the subsequent attack was dealt with by Jack Meeres.
Late in the first half Cray Valley got a goal back after a ball found its way through the Lewes backline, Bull brought down the onrushing attacker and Adam Coombes converted from the spot, despite Bull getting a hand on the ball.
The second half did not start as quickly as the first, with the closest Lewes got in the opening 10 minutes being a cross from Sablier that almost found its way in.
Cray Valley then had a chance to draw level, but Cumberbatch’s header went wide of Bull’s goal. At the other end, Lewes had a brilliant opportunity to bag a third when the ball was deflected into the path of substitute Tolu Ladapo, but his powerful effort went just over the top of Cray Valley keeper Chamberlain’s bar.
Lewes finally got their third, though, after a scramble in the box on 77 minutes. After two Lewes players failed to divert the ball in, it eventually made its way to Muirhead to drill home from a tight angle, and the Rooks had their two-goal cushion back.
Buoyed by the goal, Lewes went in search of a fourth to round off the afternoon. Sablier’s through-ball quickly found Hutchinson, but Chamberlain saved his attempt, resulting in a corner that Lewes failed to capitalize on.
Bull was finally tested in the second half when Andre Coker recovered from a slip to drill a shot in, but the Lewes keeper was right behind it to save.
The afternoon then would get better for the Rooks in stoppage time when a corner was diverted home by Warren, securing three points and raucous scenes in the Philcox Stand.
The result keeps Lewes in 13th place in the Isthmian Premier League,, level on points with Folkestone Invicta after their defeat to Cheshunt, and leaves Cray Valley Paper Mills fourth.
Lewes: Bull, Ojemen, Warren, Sablier, Bassett, Antonio, Starkey, Meeres, Muirhead, Spinks, Unwin
Subs: Jones, Ladapo, Hutchinson, Allen, Ekpiteta
Words: Christopher Coleman