Lewes Men's 1s back with a bang

...but it was still a surprise to win in such convincing style. The result gives them a chance of avoiding relegation as they are second from bottom separated only now by goal difference from Milton Keynes.

The early exchanges saw Lewes moving the ball around stretching the Wayfarers defence and they were rewarded after fifteen minutes when from their second penalty corner Skipper Matt Needle's shot was defected in by Matt Clark. Five minutes later it was 2-0 when from a Will Wycherley cross Alex Baxter flicked the ball into the goal. Lewes then allowed Wayfarers back into the game conceding a goal from a penalty corner almost immediately and going down to ten men. They were indebted to goalkeeper Josh Pewter who made an outstanding save in overtime when Wayfarers forced three successive penalty corners to keep the score 2-1 at half time.

Lewes needed to start the second half well and they did, forcing a penalty corner in the opening minute when Gaston Golstein was held back which was converted by Needle to stretch their lead. Confidence began to come back and Lewes frequently exposed the Wayfarers defence who by now were down to 10 players. The hosts’ defence was marshalled well by Tom Stratford and Alex Warner who cleared any rare attacks. Clark and Golstein then set up James Fuller who scored with a fierce shot to make it 4-1 and then a three man move from half way involving Oli Hill, Fuller and Golstein set up Dave Roberts to score from close range to make it 5-1. Wayfarers became frustrated and at one stage were down to only eight players and Lewes capitalised with two further goals as Baxter scored his second with a shot off the Goalkeeper’s pads and finally Golstein deflected in a penalty corner in the final minutes to complete the rout.

Lewes will need to take this form into their remaining four games starting away at Oxford University on Saturday but they now have some belief following this impressive performance that they could escape relegation.