Local derby sees Lewes come out on top

SOUTH PREMIER DIVISION 2 EAST
LEWES 1ST XI 4 ( LLOYD (2), BAGGS, HICKMAN )
EASTBOURNE 1ST XI 2 ( EDWARDS, FRANCIS )

A local derby on the new pitch at the Southdown club in front of a good crowd was probably just what both sides wanted going into the Christmas break. Lewes were missing both central defenders and perhaps feared the worst but a change in formation playing only three at the back helped minimise the disruption to the defence. Both sides looked rusty in the early stages and Lewes failed to capitalise on some good opportunities with Matt Hickman and Andrew Baggs thwarted by the brave Eastbourne goalkeeper who made good saves to keep the score line goalless. Lewes were made to pay when Eastbourne’s first penalty corner was coolly despatched into the back of the net by James Edwards after fifteen minutes. Lewes responded and similarly from their first penalty corner Alex Lloyd’s powerful flick equalised five minutes later. Both sides had chances before half time with Eastbourne perhaps unfortunate with another penalty corner goal disallowed but it was level at half time.

Lewes started the second half well with Matt Clark prominent in midfield orchestrating the Lewes attacks but they could not convert the pressure into goals. Dominating possession Lewes pushed players up the pitch but were caught out by an Eastbourne breakaway from inside their own half and skipper Chris Spruce’s last ditch tackle on Angus Donaldson, when he was bearing down on goal, was a definite penalty converted by Jamie Francis to give Eastbourne the lead against the run of play.

Lewes did not allow their heads to drop and continued to move the ball around with James Fuller, in only his second game of the season due to injury, prominent in attack and a poor tackle on him gave Lewes another penalty corner from which Baggs scored to make it 2-2 midway through the half. It was anyone’s game at this stage but Lewes wanted it more and with ten minutes remaining two Eastbourne defenders got in each others way in the circle giving the hosts their third penalty corner and Lloyd grabbed his second and Lewes’s third with an accurate flick high into the net to give Lewes the lead for the first time in the match. Eastbourne became frustrated as they were repelled by a solid home defence with Sam Gill marshalling and Alex Tapping, Danny Poulsen and Sam Heinzl breaking up their attacks. With five minutes left the lively youngster Hugh Middleton combined with Spruce down the right and the resultant cross was dispatched by Hickman to give Lewes a deserved win.

Lewes moved up to fourth in the league in what has been a truncated season and hopefully a resumption in January will allow all remaining fixtures and the backlog to be completed by the end of the season.

Report by Paul Spruce