Lewes Avoid Hornets Sting

Paul Booth's second goal of the season helped Lewes to their third succesive victory today as they ran out 1-0 winners in the local derby at Horsham.

Booth Scores his second goal this season

Lewes dominated the first half and came close with first a shot from Nic Ciardini as he cut inside from the left and sent his shot narrowly over the bar before going even closer just moments later when an exchange between Michael Malcolm and Hakeem Adelakun saw the latter go through on goal before seemingly being brought down allowing Jamie Cade, who had just signed from Horsham, through on goal. But Cade failed to make the glorious chance count and sent the ball well over the bar from just yards out.

However 24 minutes in and Lewes got the goal that their play desperatly deserved when Ciardini managed to get to the byeline and send in yet another glorious ball which seemed to be floating over Booth's head but he managed to swivel and send a looping header over the Horsham keeper and into the net to give Lewes the lead.

Just a few minutes later and Lewes could have made the game a lot easier for themselves when a free kick from 10 yards outside the area was floted in by Adelakun who found the head of captain Steve Robinson who's header at the far post was agonizingly close, but just wide of the target.

Horsham had previously, like Lewes, won their previous two games and appeared to be coming back in to the game at one stage when they won a free kick on the left hand side which was sent in and found King, unmarked at the far post where he sent the ball blazing over the bar to the releif of Lewes fans where a goal would have seemed harsh.

However it didn't take long for Lewes to be back on top and the Horsham keeper had to be in good form to keep out Michael Malcolm's powerful shot. Lewes missed yet another glorious chance whem Ciardini darted his way to the edge of the area on the left hand side before magnificantly cutting in to the box and keeping the ball from going out, he drove the ball in hard across goal before it took a deflection and could have gone anywhere. As it happens it fell to Paul Booth who had to slide to far and in the end his shot sailed over the bar in yet another chance waisted.

Before half time you could tell that Horsham may make Lewes regret only scoring one goal in the first half as their tricky winger Tony Nwachwuku skipped past Melvin Kamara before Sterling brought him down and recieved a yellow card for the cynical challenge. The winger looked a trcky player and has already scored 4 goals in his first three games this season, including a hatrick against Kingstonion.

Lewes made sure they had the final opportunity before half time when a ball in found the head of Sterling who's header went just over the bar and landed on the top netting.

The Hornets gave Lewes a scare just after half time when a clever free kick from just outside the area on the right was taken short and squeezed just over the bar from a tight angle with a powerful shot from Luchford.

However, everyy time Lewes went forward they seemed to get yet another chance to wrap the game up but Draycott seemed to want to play it dangerous when he cme on for the injured Paul Booth. With his first touch of the ball he was played through on goal where he looked to curl the ball into the corner but instead rushed his shot which fell wide of the mark, dissapointing from the player who scored freely in pre season.

Horsham had a lot of possesion in the second half like Lewes let Billericay do on Saturday, Billericay also scored in the 85th minute so when Luchford had a free kick lined up in the same minute it was a worry, but the free kick didn't trouble Robinon in goal as Luchford's shot went just round the post.

Horsham:
Armstrong-Ford, Salami, King, Jacobs, Asante, Youle (Osuya 85), Luchford, Peauroux (Hutchings 64), Rice (Hider 72), Morris, Nwachukwu.
Unused Subs: Ottley, Westoby.
Booked: Asante, King.
Lewes:
Stuart Robinson, Kamara (Hamilton 51), Steve Robinson, Hustwick, Sterling, Cade (Watson 65), Somner, Adelakun, Ciardini, Malcolm, Booth (Draycott 59).
Unused Subs: Lambu, Lee.
Booked: Somner.