Club news
A disappointing performance saw Lewes crash out of the FA Cup following a 2-1 defeat to Bowers & Pitsea at the Pan reports Tom Harper.
Darren Freeman made three changes to the side that drew 3-3 with Potters Bar Town in their previous game, with Frankie Chappell, Peter Gregory and Ola Adeyemo replacing Alex Malins, Michael Onovwigun and Jordy Mongoy in the starting line-up.
There were few chances of note for either side early on, with Kayne Diedrick-Roberts and James Hammond both missing the target from the edge of the area within minutes of each other being the closest either side came to taking an early lead.
The visitors were finding it difficult to create chances from open play but always looked a threat at set-pieces, hitting the outside of the post after Nathan Stroomberg had only been able to get a slight touch on a Thomas Stephen corner and push it back out into the six-yard box.
From another set play, Bowers & Pitsea saw Lewis Manor guide a free header wide of the far post as they started to look the better side.
The visitors were nearly caught out just before the break though, as Tom Day forced a smart save from Callum Chafer at his near post after a purposeful run down the right.
Bowers should have made the most of this right on the stroke of half-time, but saw the unmarked James Thomas have his close-range header well saved by Stroomberg.
Lewes started the second half a little brighter and were handed a good chance to take the lead on 53 minutes, as Dayshonne Golding saw his cross from the left strike the arm of Martyn Stokes, leaving referee Thomas Holden with a straightforward decision to award a penalty.
Diedrick-Roberts took the spot-kick, and found the back of the net to give Lewes the lead, despite Chafer getting a strong hand to his effort.
Without creating any clear-cut chances, the Rooks were looking reasonably comfortable at this point, moving the ball around well at the back and not allowing Bowers to build any spells of pressure.
It was therefore slightly against the run of play when the visitors equalised after 71 minutes, Thomas latching onto a Manor flick-on down the left and cutting inside Day before finding the bottom corner.
They completed their comeback just five minutes later through substitute Bradley Warner, who was able to turn in the box before seeing his effort take a wicked deflection and loop into the back of the net.
Lewes saw plenty of possession during the closing stages, but the closest they csme to equalising saw Stefan Ilic send a close-range strike over the bar after good build-up play.
The visitors saw out the remainder or normal time and four minutes of injury-time comfortably to progress to the third qualifying round, and leave Lewes to focus on the league, FA Trophy and Sussex Senior Cup.
Match highlights can be viewed here.
After the game Darren was obviously disappointed with the performance and the result when he spoke to Barry Collins.
Our progcast from Saturday can be read here whilst James Boyes’s photos are here.
The Rooks will hope to put this result behind them when they return to league action at Brightlingsea Regent on Saturday, kick-off at 3pm.
Lewes: Stroomberg, Day (Bloor 74), Box, Dome-Bemwin, Chappell, Freeman, Golding (Ilic 80), Hammond, Adeyemo, Gregory (Malins 80), Diedrick-Roberts.
Unused Subs: Barclay, Redwood, Santos, Onovwigun.
Booked: None.
Bowers & Pitsea: Chafer, Gardner (Warner 74), Stephen, Stokes, Lee, Leahy, Monville, Sartain, Manor, Cornhill, Thomas.
Unused Subs: Trowbridge, McCoy, Knight, Harbrow, Baker, Wind.
Booked: Thomas.
Referee: Thomas Holden
Attendance: 479