Mens 1s produce best performance of the season
Lewes produced their best performance at home of the league season to continue their march up the table and remain unbeaten since the end of October.
Lewes HC 1st XI 7-2 Old Bordenians 1st XI (Lloyd 2, Clark 2, Spruce, Waller, Best)
On a very cold and fresh day there were concerns the pitch was not playable, but this wasn’t to be the case, and the game was given the green light.
The first 15 minutes saw Lewes dominate the ball without creating too many clear cut chances. Their first proper opportunity came from a short corner, where a smart initial double save from the Bordenians keeper saw the ball land at Chris Spruce’s feet, who finished from close range to give Lewes a deserved first half lead.
They went into the break knowing that Old Bordenians would look to come out with more attacking intent in the second half and so it proved.
A quick fire cross into the D saw Lewes keeper Andrew Isaacs unable to react quickly enough and the forward was on hand to bring the game level. Quickly after a short corner was converted via an unlucky deflection on the line and suddenly before Lewes had got out of the blocks they found themselves 2-1 down.
In previous seasons Lewes may well have capitulated, but this year has seen them mature into a more mature and well drilled side, and another corner earned through the pace of the Lewes forwards saw flicker Alex Lloyd dispatch with aplomb to bring the game level with 20 minutes to go.
Unlike Lewes, Old Bordenians began to show ill discipline and tackles began to fly in, resulting in the opposition going down to 9 men. Lewes took advantage of this and scored 4 goals inside the next 10 minutes. A brace from the quick thinking and ever reliable Matt Clark followed up by a penalty flick from Harvey Waller and a well taken Mark Best finish.
Lloyd then put the icing on the cake with a few minutes to go from another short corner, sending the ball straight through the keepers legs and giving Lewes their biggest victory of the season by seven goals to two.
This week sees Lewes travel to table topping Wimbledon, who are yet to taste defeat. The 1st XI, however, will go there in buoyant mood being the in form team in the league and looking to put another marker down in terms of progression and results this season.