Club news
Written by: Stuart
Lewes produced another impressive performance to move within three points of the play-off places with a convincing 3-0 win over Kingstonian at the Pan, reports Tom Harper.
Tony Russell named an unchanged side after their comfortable win over Wingate & Finchley four days previously.
The Rooks could have taken the lead inside the first minute, as an incisive passing move ended with Ryan Gondoh being denied by Rob Tolfrey in the visitor’s goal.
Lewes continued to enjoy most of the ball as they searched for the opening goal, with both Joe Taylor and Deon Moore narrowly missing the target as the Kingstonian defence struggled to keep the Rooks at bay.
The fact the score was 0-0 at the half-hour mark owed a lot to the performance of Tolfrey, who made smart saves to deny Tyrique Hyde and Moore in quick succession.
Lewes weren’t to be denied for much longer though, as they were awarded a penalty following a foul on Taylor in the area after 33 minutes.
Taylor took the penalty and sent Tolfrey the wrong way from the spot to give Lewes the lead their performance had undoubtedly deserved.
The remainder of the half followed a similar pattern, with Tolfrey saving well to deny Gondoh and then Moore for a third time to ensure the visitors went in at half-time only one goal behind.
The Rooks started the second half brightly, Hyde drawing a smart save from Tolfrey down low to his right, before Gondoh saw a curling effort from the right hit the inside of the far post and Taylor had his strike on the rebound blocked.
Lewes remained on top throughout the half, moving the ball quickly and ensuring that the visitors never really looked like gaining a foothold in the game.
The Rooks finally doubled their lead midway through the second half, as Gondoh saw a powerful shot from the edge of the area take a slight deflection on its way past Tolfrey and into the back of the net.
Lewes thought they had increased their lead minutes later, but Moore was flagged offside after applying the finishing touch to an excellent passing move.
The home supporters were being treated to a superb attacking display, with Tolfrey called into another double-save to keep out an attempt from Hyde before superbly tipping Bradley Pritchard’s effort on the rebound over the bar following outstanding play down the right by Gondoh.
Lewes made it 3-0 with eight minutes remaining, Will Salmon finishing from close range after Tolfrey had only been able to parry a Pritchard strike from the edge of the area.
To their credit, Kingstonian enjoyed arguably their best spell of the game late on, Salmon making a fine block to keep out an effort from O’Shane Stewart, who then saw another attempt from distance tipped onto the bar by Lewis Carey in the final meaningful action of the game.
You can read today’s prodcast here.
Highlights of the game, thanks to Your Instant Replay, can be viewed here.
Next up for the Rooks is a trip to Bowers & Pitsea on Saturday, kick-off at 3pm.
Lewes: Carey, Renee, Mascoll, Champion, Salmon, Young (Olukoga 46), Pritchard, Hyde, Gondoh (Murrell-Williamson 81), Moore (Walker 85), Taylor.
Unused Subs: Tamplin, Hall.
Booked: Salmon.
Kingstonian: Tolfrey, Jones, Pascal, Eales, Dudley, Ntim (Kauzeni 73), Stewart, Bonnett-Johnson, Evans, Bancroft (Haigh 81), Lewis (Noguera Leon 70).
Unused Subs: None.
Booked: Dudley.
Attendance: 751