Lewes break Blackheath hearts with stunning late comeback
With a break in the weather, Lewes Men’s 1st XI lined up against a young and boisterous opposition bidding to secure a vital away win a following a tough result the previous week
The game began at a frenetic pace as the home team threw men forward in a high octane press looking to catch Lewes off guard.
Lewes played well through this pressure and despite the barrage of forward pressing found inroads through the right-hand channel with electric pace from captain Spruce and talisman Hickman. Despite this early possession, it was the home side that struck first after a number of early corners, they converted one with a neat drag-flick into the low left-hand corner.
Lewes were not perturbed and continued with there game plan as Sam Gill skillfully found a foot in the circle to win a penalty corner which Lloyd slotted home with aplomb. That drew the first half to a close and both sides went into half time wondering how they could get ahead in this tightly contested affair.
The second half brought much of the same as an open and dynamic game saw the ball flying backwards and forwards with neither side managing to get a foothold in the early minutes. Lewes went ahead thanks to a well-worked corner which Harvey Waller dispatched into the bottom left-hand corner. However, the lead was short-lived as Blackheath drew level with a contentious equaliser only a few minutes later.
The next ten minutes were to be for the home team as they struck twice. Once from a well-worked corner routine and once as they caught the Lewes’ defence napping on the break.
With fifteen to play and Lewes now down to ten men, all hope seemed to be lost. But Lewes have a history of late comebacks and, with just over 10 minutes to go, Hickman was left unmarked with the goal at his mercy, and he duly dispatched the ball to leave the home side clinging on.
With this momentum, Lewes went through the gears and a newfound belief saw Hickman grab his second with a well-taken reverse to bring the scores to parity before Wycherly bagged the winner with an instinctive finish in the dying minutes of the game.
This rounded off an improved Lewes performance which they look to take into next weeks home game against Canterbury 2’s in an effort to stamp some authority on this closely contested league.