Men's football news
Lewes paid a heavy price for defensive lapses and they went down 4-1 at Wingate & Finchle, reports Barry Collins.
The Rooks could barely have got off to a better start when they took the lead after only four minutes. James Beresford put in a tremendous cross from the right flank and Tom Bolarinwa stuck it past the Wingate keeper from close range. (The goal was initially credited to the nearby Aaron Cosgrave by the Wingate officials and some others on Twitter.)
The Rooks could have doubled that lead shortly afterwards when Cosgrave was set free down the left-side of the box and dinked a ball just over.
Alas, the lead lasted only seven minutes as Wingate fluked their way back into the game. Bilal Sayoud’s mishit cross looped over the blameless Stroomberg-Clarke and the hosts had an undeserved equaliser.
However, there was nothing undeserved about what followed, as basic defensive errors put Wingate in full control. Their second goal came only three minutes later, as an uncontested cross from the right was converted by a free header in the box from Kahan Cotter.
The rocking Rooks’ defence was dealt a further blow a minute later when Kiran Khinda-John was forced off with a recurring injury. His organisational skills were sorely missed in the 28th minute, when a deep free-kick was launched into the Lewes box and Billy Healy was somehow allowed a free header to make it three.
A half-time change saw Leon Redwood withdrawn for Fintan Walsh and the Rooks largely dominated possession in the second period, without ever really threatening the wobbly-l;ooking Myles Roberts in the Wingate goal. A good penalty shout for a foul on Cosgrave was as close as we came to narrowing the deficit.
Wingate put the game beyond all doubt in the 77th minute, when Healy was once again left unmarked to prod home a ball across the box.
Hugo Langton came to apologise to the travelling support at the end of the game, a gesture much appreciated by the travelling supporters. A huge improvement will be required for Tuesday’s visit to high flying Bowers & Pitsea.
You can watch Hugo’s post match interview here.
Lewes: Stroomberg-Clarke, Beresford, Redwood (Walsh 46mins), James-Lewis, Khinda-John (D’Arienzo 18mins), Frimpomng, Bolarinwa, Bosma (Owusu-Nepaul 75mins), Cosgrave, Art;hurs, Santos
Subs not used: Blewden, Martin
Bookings: Redwood, Arthurs