Men's football news
A
second-half goal from Jonte Smith helped Lewes to an impressive 2-1 victory
over ten-man Hastings United in a competitive derby game played in blistering
heat at the Pilot Field reports Tom Harper.
Darren
Freeman made four changes to the side that had drawn 2-2 with Sittingoburne
just two days earlier, with Steve Brinkhurst, Matt Hurley, Liam MacDevitt and
Jonte Smith replacing Harry Reed, Gus Sow, Reece Williams-Bowers and Shomari
Barnwell in the starting line-up.
These
changes saw Alex Malins move into midfield, with Hurley playing alongside
captain Lloyd Cotton in the centre of defence.
Lewes got
off to the perfect start by taking the lead inside the first minute, as a low
shot from Bouwe Bosma was turned into his own net by a Hastings defender after
the hosts had been unable to clear a Jamie Brotherton free-kick.
This goal
gave the Rooks plenty of confidence and they nearly doubled their lead minutes
later through MacDevitt, as his mis-hit cross had to be pushed away by Josh
Pelling in the Hastings goal.
The hosts
looked comfortable on the ball themselves though, and equalised from the
penalty spot after just nine minutes, with Billy Medlock sending Chris
Winterton the wrong way from the spot after Ansu Janneh had been tripped in the
area at the end of a purposeful run.
Hastings
named five former Lewes players in their starting line-up and two of these
combined to nearly give them the lead, as Ollie Rowe was only able to guide his
header from a Lee Carey free-kick wide of the far post.
The game was
turned on its head after 36 minutes, as Rowe was shown a straight red card by
referee Lee Dyson for a two-footed challenge on Smith.
After a
lengthy stoppage while Smith received treatment, Malins sent a diving header
from the resulting free-kick taken by Bosma into the side-netting at the far
post.
The Rooks
nearly made the most of their numerical advantage with the final kick of the
first half, but saw Brotherton hit the post with a close-range effort after the
Hastings defence had been unable to clear a dangerous Brinkhurst cross.
Despite
being down to ten men, the hosts started the second half brightly, with Janneh
just failing to get on the end of a cross from Medlock when any contact would
almost certainly have seen the midfielder score.
It was
Lewes’ turn to go close minutes later, as Smith just missed the target with a
far-post header from a Bosma cross.
The Rooks
continued to push for a second goal and took the lead after 56 minutes through
Smith, who just got ahead of his marker to flick an excellent Williams-Bowers
cross from the left across Pelling and into the bottom corner to send the
impressive contingent of travelling supporters into raptures behind the goal.
The game was
played in midfield for much of the second half, with the long throws of
substitute Ollie Black looking the most likely route back into the game for the
hosts.
Lewes seemed
happy to let Hastings have the ball at times and then hit them on the
counter-attack, with MacDevitt heading a Conlon cross wide of the far post at
the end of one impressive passing move.
The Rooks
should have sealed all three points in the closing stages, but saw substitute
George Landais send a close-range effort over the bar after Pelling had only
been able to parry a Conlon free-kick.
Despite
this, Lewes saw out four minutes of stoppage time relatively comfortably to
record a win against a side expected to be near the top of the table at the end
of the season.
Full highlights of the game can be viewed here.
The Rooks
will hope to build on an impressive Bank Holiday weekend when they travel to
Thamesmead Town in the FA Cup first qualifying round on Saturday, kick-off at
3pm.
Hastings United: Pelling, Pritchard, Vickers, Carey
(Black 54), Aziaya, Rowe, Rodari, Dixon, Medlock (Rodrigues-Barbosa 72), Janneh
(Harris 65), Cruttwell.
Unused Subs: Gayler, Dullaway.
Booked: Dixon.
Sent off: Rowe.
Lewes: Winterton, Brinkhurst, George,
Malins, Cotton, Hurley, MacDevitt, Bosma (Landais 90), Smith, Brotherton
(Williams-Bowers 50), Conlon.
Unused Subs: Chappell, Reed, Barnwell.
Booked: Malins, MacDevitt, Bosma, Landais.
Referee: Lee Dyson
Attendance: 699