A clinical performance from league leaders Wealdstone saw Lewes suffer a disappointing defeat and make it six league games without a win. reports Tom Harper.
Garry Wilson made three changes to the side which had drawn 1-1 with Kingstonian in their previous game, with Jay Lovett, Fraser Logan and Rhys Murrell-Williamson replacing Ben Austin, George Branford and Ross Treleaven in the starting line-up.
Both sides started the game slowly, with Lewes looking relatively strong defensively whilst trying to get the ball forward quickly to Luke Blewden. Wealdstone had the first opportunity of the game, as Charlie Penny, who enjoyed an impressive loan spell at the Pan from Millwall earlier this season, saw a close-range effort parried by Rikki Banks before Luke Pigden saw his mis-hit effort on the rebound hit the crossbar and bounce clear. However, the visitors did take the lead after 18 minutes. Tom Pett was the scorer, latching onto an inch-perfect through-ball and finishing calmly past Banks from close range.
Lewes restricted Wealdstone to very few opportunities during the remainder of the first half, but were struggling to create chances themselves. The closest the Rooks came to equalising before the break saw Jack Walder send a long-range effort comfortably wide, before Murrell-Williamson saw an effort from the right deflected just wide of the near post.
Lewes started the second half brightly, with the pace of Murrell-Williamson and Nick Wheeler out wide causing the Wealdstone defence plenty of problems. Despite enjoying more possession, the only clear-cut opportunity the Rooks were able to create during this period saw Jack Dixon send a powerful header from a Treleaven corner over the crossbar.
The visitors made Lewes pay for not turning their possession into goal-scoring chances with 20 minutes remaining, as Pigden capitalised on a poor ball across the penalty area from Andy Pearson and saw his tame close-range effort fumbled into the net by the unfortunate Banks. Wealdstone wrapped up the points in style six minutes later, as experienced striker Scott McGleish controlled a long ball forward and sent a superb looping 30-yard half-volley from the right channel over Banks and in off the far post.
The game petered out in the closing stages, with a comfortable save for Jonathan North from a long-range Matt Crabb effort being the closest the Rooks came to scoring a consolation goal.
This was not as bad a display as the score-line suggests from Lewes against the soon-to-be Ryman Premier champions, but the Rooks were made to pay for defensive errors and not turning their possession into clear-cut opportunities by a clinical display of finishing from Wealdstone.
Next up for the Rooks is a trip to Thamesmead Town on Saturday, kick-off at 3pm.
Lewes: Banks, S. Crabb, Gore, Pearson, Lovett, Walder (M. Crabb 78), Wheeler (Treleaven 62), Dixon, Blewden, Murrell-Williamson, Logan (Branford 68).
Unused Subs: Brinkhurst, Madhani.
Booked: Walder, M. Crabb.
Wealdstone: North, Hammond, Okimo, Parker, Cronin, Godfrey, McCluskey (McCubbin 64), Pigden, McGleish (Putman 80), Penny (Silva 84), Pett.
Unused Subs: Hamblin, Malcolm.
Booked: Cronin.
Referee: Graham Ions
Attendance: 356
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