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With Lewes and Eastbourne Borough in 1st and 2nd place in the Blue Square South respectively the 1st festive fixture of the 2007/2008 season had even greater significance than the usual encounters. To add further spice there was the 7-2 Boro victory at Priory Lane just a few short weeks previous to consider. Recent seasons have seen ‘fiery’ encounters and a bumper crowd was expected ...... the game again did not disappoint. The Setanta Shield encounter had seen both sides with less than full strength squads; key for Lewes the return of Steve Robinson, whilst Boro had injury/fitness concerns with Darren Baker and Scott Ramsay only fit enough to start on the bench; Nathan Crabb suspended.
A massive 2299, boosted by a huge presence from the coast, saw the home side make a solid start. Binns, Paul Booth and Matt Groves all with half chances inside the opening 15 minutes. Lee Hooks 1st save was required on 22 minutes when Andy Drury’s low flick was turned around the post. Neil Jenkins led the response with a quick break, Pat Harding crossing low and hard for Robinson to clear. Tom Davis saw a shot blocked for ‘The Rooks’ and on 38 minutes Jenkins headed the ball off the line with Hook beaten. Boro responded with Andy Atkins effort on target when clean through saved by Steve Williams and an Atkin header cleared off the line by Binns. From this excellent piece of defending Lewes took the lead. The home side broke quickly and Drury drew a tackle from Jenkins that resulted in a penalty from Mr. Atkin. Booth struck the spot kick confidently home for a 1-0 lead at half-time. Not many in the crowd would deny that Lewes were the more effective in the opening 45 but Boro were not to give up their unbeaten record without a fight.
Boro began the restart in a positive manner with Harding drawing an excellent covering tackle from Robinson on 48 minutes as he burst into the penalty area.; and some neat 1 touch football just would not find Paul Armstrong as he sought an opening on the edge of the box. On 63 minutes Jay Conroy received his 1st yellow card for a foul on Matt Crabb. The Boro mans resultant free-kick just inches over the bar. As Boro dominated the yellow cards for ‘The Rooks’ began to stack up for niggling fouls and dissent born of frustration, but the home side extended their lead on 72 minutes. Booth found himself in space and unchallenged outside the Boro box and fired home beyond Hook for 2-0 and with less than 20 minutes left surely all 3 points!
Garry Wilson and Nick Greenwood introduced Adam Wilde and his crosses and corners caused panic in a back-line that previously seemed assured and confident. Matt Smart drew a wonderful save from Williams on 78 minutes and the Boro half of the crowd must have sensed that it was not to be their day. Their side however did not let them down as Smarts long range effort somehow evaded Williams and crept into the far right-hand corner for 2-1 and a glimmer of hope. If Lewes had played into ‘The Sports’ hands by dropping deeper and deeper as the half progressed and employed obvious delaying tactics it was now to rob them of their victory. Wilde drew a late tackle from Conroy and his animated protestations appeared to earn him a 2nd yellow and an early bath. The Dripping Pan was now an equal mix of fear and excitement, and in the 93rd minute a right-wing corner was weakly palmed away but found Atkins head who sent the visiting crowd into ecstasy with an equaliser that although only saved a point also signaled the passion that the players hold for the club, management, supporters; and the pride in their excellent record this season.
Although the points were shared the scenes at the final whistle could barely have been in greater contrast. Many Boro fans jubilantly celebrated another improbable comeback with their players whilst Lewes gathered shell-shocked in the middle of the park. The faces of the players as they made their way to the changing rooms also maybe betrayed their inner feelings; Boro smiles wide, Rooks looking at their boots only occasionally raising to acknowledge those home supporters left 10 minutes after final whistle. All is set for New Years Day. Any supporter, Boro, Lewes or neutral surely can not complain about value for money in the fixtures this season.
Match Details - Webmaster.
Match Photos - David Bauckham.
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