Men's 3s suffer defeat in the Battle of Southdowns
Men's 3s Lose 1-4 against Lewes Men's 2s
FIXTURE: Sussex Div 2
HOME TEAM: Lewes Men's 3s 1 (Martin)
AWAY TEAM: Lewes Men's 2s 4
So here it was, round two. After the hugely unexpected victory before Christmas Lewes Men's 3s, resplendent in the emerald green, faced their club mates, the 2s, in the shadowy black.
The pattern of the game was quickly established with the 2s dominating possession and moving the ball rapidly and with precision. The Theban band of Hugo Youngman, Tom Picken, Dakin and Tom Fewster held firm.
However with the 2s pushing through midfield and forcing their way into the D repeatedly it was only a matter of time before their skullduggery and witchcraft led to the award of a succession of penalty corners.
The first goal, the culmination of three months of frustration, was a powerful strike from one of the penalty corners. The 3s struggled to counter and gifted possession on too many occasions against a side who now had a lead, something they were unable to do in the previous encounter.
The 3s were indebted to Jon Cornish for a series of excellent saves as the pressure mounted on the 3s goal. Another controversial penalty corner led to another goal.
With less than 20 seconds of the half remaining the 3s lost possession on their own D and the resulting finish saw the score at 3-0 at half time.
The second half was a much closer affair as the 3s finally found teeth. Tom Casselden, Harvey, Bill Short and Jago Hussain all combining well and engineering a wide ball to Richard Pulley who drive towards goal. A barbaric tackle ended the run but at the resulting penalty corner a back board busting Bradman-esque strike from George Martin bought renewed hope.
However in a rather crass moment when the ball clearly left the area of play the 2s drove forward and added a fourth. No further goals followed as the game petered out. For the 2s another step towards second; for the 3s, the last match against a side above them in the league and a chance to get the first win of 2018 that their play deserves.
Man Of The Match Chris Picken
MATCH REPORT: Richard Pulley