Men's football news
An impressive performance saw Lewes return to winning ways with a comfortable 3-0 win over Kingstonian at the Pan, reports Tom Harper.
Darren Freeman made one change to the side that drew 0-0 at Brightlingsea Regent in their previous game, with Kieron Pamment replacing Luke Blewden in the starting line-up.
Kingstonian started brightly and saw Alfie Egan send a half-volley from the edge of the area just wide as they looked to take an early lead.
The Rooks saw more of the ball as the half progressed and took the lead after 18 minutes through Charlie Coppola, who latched onto a Ben Pope through-ball and rolled the ball into an empty net from the edge of the area after Rob Tolfrey in the Kingstonian goal had saved his initial effort.
Lewes doubled their lead just before the half-hour, Pope sending Tolfrey the wrong way from the spot after Delano Sam-Yorke was adjudged to have fouled Coppola in the area.
Pope was causing the visitor’s defence plenty of problems with his tireless running and nearly doubled his tally minutes later, capitalising on an under-hit back-pass from Tom Bird before slicing his effort wide from a tight angle.
There were few chances of note during a quiet start to the second half, with Lewes looking solid defensively without really coming close to adding to their lead.
The Rooks were able to make it 3-0 after 67 minutes though, as Coppola cut the ball back from the right for Pope to finish past Tolfrey from close range at the end of an impressive passing move.
With the points all-but secured, Lewes looked to add to their lead, and would have done so but for a fine double-save from Tolfrey to deny Stacey Freeman and Pope.
Kingstonian forced a succession of corners in the closing stages as they searched for a consolation, with Sam-Yorke hitting the bar from close range, before Aaron Lamont saw an effort from the edge of the area pushed round the post by Lewis Carey in the last meaningful action of the game.
This was an impressive win for Lewes, who remain six points adrift of the play-offs heading into the run-in.
After the game a very pleased Darren Freeman spoke to Barry Collins.
You can read and enjoy today’s Progcast here
The Rooks will hope to build on this result when they travel to Haringey Borough next Saturday, kick-off at 3pm.
Lewes: Carey, Day, Banya, Dome-Bemwin, Chappell, Freeman, Reed (Adeyemo 90), Hammond, Pope, Pamment (Golding 80), Coppola (Overton 90).
Unused Subs: Blewden, Lawson.
Booked: None.
Kingstonian: Tolfrey, Spence, Bird, Inman, Yakubu (Coleman 84), Lamont, Sam-Yorke, McAuley, Theophanous, Minhas, Egan.
Unused Subs: Jacquart, Hawkins, Drewett.
Booked: Bird, Inman, Yakubu, Lamont.
Referee: Alexander Mathieson
Attendance: 812