Club news
A lacklustre display saw Lewes fall to a 1-0 defeat to bottom side Brightlingsea Regent at the Pan, reports Tom Harper.
Hugo Langton handed a debut to new signing Christian Frimpong and restored Billy Medlock to the starting line-up to replace the injured Gary Noel. There was also a first league start for U18s defender Nic D’Arienzo at left-back.
The visitors started brightly and thought they had taken the lead inside the first few minutes, only to see referee Graeme Ions blow for a foul after a corner was headed past Nathan Stroomberg-Clarke from close range.
Lewes were finding it difficult to build any momentum, with their best early chance ending with Billy Medlock being denied by a superb last-ditch challenge at the end of an incisive counter-attack involving Aaron Cosgrave and Dimitri Hatzimouratis.
As the half progressed, neither goalkeeper was forced into any serious action, as Stroomberg-Clarke comfortably saved a Romario Dunne free-kick, before Cosgrave sent a volley straight at Charlie Turner in the visitor’s goal minutes later.
Brightlingsea took the lead on the stroke of half-time through Jake Thompson, who headed a deep corner from the right past Stroomberg-Clarke at the far post.
The second half followed a similar pattern to the first, with both sides struggling to create any clear-cut opportunities.
The best of the half chances that were being created were falling to the visitors though, as Jake Clowsley’s cross was deflected away from Dunne in front of goal and Jake Turner saw a free-kick drift just past the far post.
Lewes were being restricted to efforts from distance, seeing James Hammond shoot over from 25 yards as they looked to build some momentum heading into the closing stages.
An injury to Brightlingsea’s James Crisell saw six minutes of time added on at the end of the game, but the closest Lewes came to scoring during this period saw a mis-hit Dayshonne Golding half-volley trickle through to Charlie Turner, meaning the Rooks now sit only two points above the relegation zone.
After the game, Hugo spoke to Barry Collins about the game.
Highlights can be found here thanks to Your Instant Replay.
The Prodcast from Saturday’s game can be read here.
James Boyes’s photos ca be viewed here.
Next up for Lewes is the visit of Bognor Regis Town to the Pan on Wednesday, kick-off at 7.45pm.
Lewes: Stroomberg-Clarke, Day, D’Arienzo, Malins, Chappell, Frimpong, Golding, Hammond, Cosgrave (Franis-Adeyinka 75), Medlock (Halsey 67), Hatzimouratis (Diedrick-Roberts 70).
Unused Subs: Freeman, Conlon.
Booked: Day, Cosgrave.
Brightlingsea Regent: C. Turner, Boyland (Gelashvilli 46) (Byrne-Hewitt 78), Gould, Kamanzi, Forrest, Thompson, O’Reilly, J. Turner, Dunne, Crisell (Bugg 87), Clowsley.
Unused Subs: Abukar, Mudd.
Booked: C. Turner, Dunne, Crisell.
Referee: Graeme Ions
Attendance: 402