Lewes 2 Braintree Town 2 Sat, 6 February 2010

A Joe Keehan brace helped Lewes to a share of the spoils at The Dripping Pan, as they fought back from two goals down to claim a valuable point.

Lewes manager Steve Ibbitson made two changes to the side which had lost 3-1 at Weymouth in their previous league game, with new signing Lewis Hamilton and Kane Louis effectively replacing Arron Hopkinson and Williams Peauroux in the starting line-up.

Lewes started brightly, with the impressive Ross Sutton winning an early corner after a marauding left-wing run, before David Wheeler sent a low shot straight at Craig Holloway in the Braintree goal.

It was therefore against the run of play when the visitors took the lead after seven minutes. The goal came courtesy of Sean Marks, whose header was misjudged by Rikki Banks in the Lewes goal after a searching cross from Reece Harris.

Lewes nearly found an immediate response from an unlikely source, when centre-back Andy Pearson sent a long-range shot just wide.

However, Braintree continued to create chances and doubled their lead after 29 minutes, when the impressive George Purcell was allowed to run through the Lewes defence before firing a powerful left-foot shot past Banks.

The visitors should have increased their lead further moments later, when Marks shot straight at Banks after being put through on goal by Harris.

The Rooks then created their first real chance of the game, when confusion in the Braintree defence gave Jean-Michel Sigere a chance from a tight angle. However, with the goal gaping, the popular striker sent his shot into the side-netting.

Lewes pulled a goal back just before half-time through Joe Keehan. The midfielder sent a powerful far-post header over Mark Jones on the line and into the top corner to give the home fans a glimmer of hope going into half-time.

The Rooks started the second half brightly, with Sutton being denied twice in the opening minutes of the half. He first saw Holloway tip his curling shot round the post, before seeing his looping header from the resulting corner cleared off the line by Ryan Peters.

Despite a much improved performance from Lewes, Braintree continued to look dangerous on the break, with Matt Game seeing his low shot saved by Banks after more good play from Purcell.

As the game entered the last ten minutes, Purcell had a chance to seal the points for Braintree after being put clean through on goal, but he sent his shot wide.

Lewes were beginning to find their passing rhythm, with Keehan taking charge of the midfield which had put Braintree in such a dominant position during the first half.

The Rooks nearly found the goal that their second-half pressure had deserved, when Wheeler sent an acrobatic left-foot volley from the edge of the area towards the top corner, only to see Holloway make an impressive save to tip it round the post.

However, after 85 minutes, Lewes found the second goal their performance had deserved through Keehan. The impressive midfielder, who is making a habit of scoring important goals, sent a looping volley over Holloway from 12 yards to salvage a point for Lewes.

There are many positives to come out of this game for the Rooks, particularly the fact that they controlled the second half against a team who could well be challenging for promotion come the end of the season.

Lewes:

Banks, Barness, Pearson, Breach, Hamilton (Hopkinson 70), Wheeler, Keehan, Chamberlain, Sutton, Louis, Sigere.

Unused Subs: Timms, Rivers, Crellin, Pople.

Booked: None.

Braintree Town:

Holloway, Peters, Champion, Goodacre, Jones, Mingle, Quinton, Game, Harris (Bruno 80), Purcell, Marks (Power 70).

Unused Subs: Bruce, Duncan, McDonald.

Booked: Jones, Game.

Referee: Mr P Knight

words by Tom Harper