Although this match had an end of season feel, the winners knew they had the opportunity to move up to fifth place in the league. Lewes were missing defender Alex Warner and forward Gaston Golstein so knew they would be in for a tough afternoon.

The late arrival of three players following an accident on the motorway did not help as it left Lewes starting the match with only 10 players, but they adjusted their formation and coped adequately during the opening ten minutes before they arrived. Georgians had beaten Lewes just before Christmas and were keen to do the double and finally took the lead after twenty minutes with a powerful drag flick from a penalty corner. Lewes goalkeeper Josh Pewter then made successive saves as Lewes’s defence were put under pressure. Slowly Matt Clark and Dave Roberts got some control in midfield and just on half time Chris Spruce broke down the right and crossed for Clark to shoot from the top of the circle which the hosts keeper saved only for the alert Connor Zimmerman to slot home the rebound.

In the second half Georgians made some heavy challenges as they became frustrated at their inability to convert their possession into further goals. Creditably Lewes kept their cool and defenders Tom Newman, Matt Rickson and Tom Stratford made some critical tackles and interceptions. With ten minutes to go Georgians did finally take the lead from another drag flick from a penalty corner and it looked then as though Lewes would return empty handed. As Georgians sat on their lead Lewes pressed forward and just on the final whistle another late tackle in the 25 resulted correctly in a penalty corner for Lewes and skipper Matt Needle buried the ball in the bottom of the goal with a powerful flick to ensure Lewes left with a deserved point. The result meant both Georgians and Lewes finished on the same number of points but they pip Lewes on goal difference by one goal to leave Lewes in seventh place.

After the match Lewes skipper Matt Needle said ‘It has been a long season and losing our coach and two players at Christmas meant we struggled in the second half of the season. We have finished well in our last two games and are looking forward to our Sussex Cup semi final match against Brighton on Saturday.’

Lewes will start as underdogs as Brighton are in the league above in National league East and won their first relegation play off game last week against Isca. In contrast to Lewes they have got stronger in the second half of the season seemingly guaranteed to be relegated but finding form just at the right time to finish in a play off position. The match starts at the Southdown Club at 3pm. In the evening Lewes have their end of season Dinner Dance at the White Hart Hotel and will hope to have something to celebrate.