Men's football news
Ten-man Lewes crashed out of the Sussex Senior Cup following a 1-0 defeat at Southern Combination Premier Division side Peacehaven & Telscombe, reports Tom Harper.
Ross Standen and Tony Coade made three changes to the side that lost 3-0 to East Thurrock in their previous game, with Frankie Chappell, Leon Redwood and Jordy Mongoy replacing Harry Reed, Stefan Ilic and Kayne Diedrick-Roberts in the starting line-up.
Lewes started brightly and created the first opportunity of the game, Mongoy shooting straight at Lawrence Sanded in the Peacehaven goal after some incisive passing in midfield.
Peacehaven gradually grew into the game as the half progressed, and saw Brad Bant draw a fine save from Nathan Stroomberg-Clarke as they looked to make this count on the scoreboard.
They continued to enjoy the better of the chances and should have taken the lead soon after when Curtis Ford could only head against the inside of the post after Stroomberg-Clarke had parried a powerful Charlie Lambert strike.
A tough game became even more difficult for Lewes on 38 minutes, as Lewis Taylor was shown a straight red card for an alleged stamp on a Peacehaven player.
Despite their numerical disadvantage, Lewes should have been given the opportunity to go in ahead at half-time, only for the referee to wave away their claims for a penalty after Leon Redwood appeared to be tripped in the area.
The hosts started the second half on the front foot and saw Lambert hit the side-netting from a difficult angle following a quick counter-attack.
They weren’t to be denied for long though, and took the lead on 49 minutes through Ford, who sent a superb effort from the edge of the area past Stroomberg-Clarke and into the roof of the net at the end of an excellent passing move.
To their credit, Lewes didn’t let their heads drop, and saw Billy Medlock go close to equalising twice in quick succession, first seeing a free-kick well saved by Sanded, before flicking a Michael Dome-Bemwin cross over the bar at the near post.
The hosts were battling for every ball, winning plenty of challenges and always looking like they could pose a threat on the break but as we moved into the final 15 minutes, it was Lewes who looked the more likely scorers.
The Rooks went close to equalising twice in the space of a minute, as Kayne Diedrick-Roberts was denied by Sanded before Tony Mendy saw a low strike from the edge of the area clip the outside of the post.
Lewes thought they had equalised minutes later only to be denied by the linesman’s flag, as a Leon Redwood cross from the left was converted from an offside position in a crowded penalty area.
Redwood went close himself in the final minute of normal time, seeing a powerful free-kick superbly tipped over the bar by Sanded.
Lewes’ final chance came deep into stoppage time, but Frankie Chappell could only guide his header from a Diedrick-Roberts corner over the bar, meaning the Rooks’ hopes of a trip to the Amex for the Sussex Senior Cup final were over for another season.
Highlights of the game can be viewed here.
Next up for Lewes is a trip to Corinthian Casuals in the league on Saturday, kick-off at 3pm.
Peacehaven & Telscombe: Sanded, Morley, Bant (Lloyd 85), Grant, Lambert (Olulade 72), Allen, Okorougo, Brocklebank, Ford, Cheeseman, Marshall.
Unused Subs: Edwards, McDonnell, Secka.
Booked: Allen, Olulade.
Lewes: Stroomberg-Clarke, Day, Redwood, Dome-Bemwin, Chappell, Freeman, Golding, Hammond, Mongoy (Diedrick-Roberts 73), Medlock (Mendy 60), Taylor.
Unused Subs: Conlon, Reed, Yeboah.
Booked: None.
Sent off: Taylor