County fielded a strong starting eleven and welcomed back Nathan Davies. Ian Hillier had recovered from his facial injury at Histon and took up his customary place in the centre of defence alongside captain John Brough.    

 

County were dominant in the first half and their play became more fluent and enterprising as the half wore on. Their increasing pressure paid off with the simplest of set piece goals on nineteen minutes. From a short throw-in Ian Hillier hit a deep cross to Julian Alsop at the far post and Jason Bowen was first to anticipate his knock down to sweep the ball into the roof of the net for his thirteenth goal of the season. 

 

'Action man' Ian Hillier had a hat-trick of chances to double the lead but was not able to convert any of them. He came closest when he found time and space to control a corner but lashed his shot over the bar. From a flowing five man move Craig Hughes laid the ball back to Steve Jenkins who also cleared the bar, and neither Hughes nor team-mate Richard Evans could connect with Alsop's inviting cross as the home side exerted considerable pressure. Lewes who had shown no threat, equalised with their first effort on goal seven minutes before the interval. Leon Legge powering home Andy Drury's undefendable corner from close range.

 

Referee Adkins had irritated the home crowd with his unnecessary interventions, and had set the wrong tone for the match by booking Julian Alsop and Leon Legge after only five minutes for an altercation off the ball. Adkins became 'public enemy number one' as he refused home claims for a penalty when Hughes appeared to be tripped as he shaped to shoot. The frustration in the stands was palpable as the teams left the field.          

 

Tempers became more frayed in the second half and Adkins and his assistants took a full three minutes to calm an ugly melee from which Rooks' captain Stephen Robinson was fortunate to emerge with only a yellow card. Robinson was seen to punch Craig Hughes in the face and was trudging across the field expecting Adkins to brandish a red card only to be reprieved as the referee drew a yellow from his pocket. 

 

In a less one-sided second half County were comfortably the better side and had the best chances to take the points. This was a day when physique overcame flair and Lewes' spoiling game plan proved effective. 

 

From Lee Collier's inswinging free kick Ian Hillier planted his header wide from only six yards with a clear sight of goal, and Jason's Bowen's shot was deflected wide of the target. County penned Lewes in their box and Hillier launched a series of long throws into the heart of the defence from both flanks. With the trickery of Bowen on the flank and the pace of substitute Matt Green ensuring the Rooks had to defend from deep, it seemed only a matter of time before a home winner would arrive. Craig Hughes' overhead kick went narrowly wide and inexplicably Hughes scooped the ball over the bar from close in with the goalkeeper and defence flatfooted. Andy Drury had the pick of Lewes' rare chances but hit his angled shot behind the goal.

 

County ran out of time and referee Adkins had to be escorted from the pitch for his own safety with the home crowd baying. 

 

County must get back on a winning run to keep pace with the other promotion contenders and return to action next Saturday at home to lowly Thurrock.      

 

Line Ups:

County: Ovendale, S Jenkins, Searle, Davies, Brough (C), Hillier, Bowen, Collier, Alsop, Hughes, Evans (Green 74) Subs Not Used: Garner, O’Sullivan, Toppar, Giles

 

Lewes: Brooks-Mead, Robinson (C), Hamilton, Kadi, Legge, Simpemba, Drury, Holloway, Berry (Hall 55), Booth (Sharpling 87), McEntegart Subs Not Used  Storey, Elliott, Hewitt

 

Scorers:

County: Jason Bowen (19)

Lewes: Leon Legge (38)

 

Cautions:

County: Alsop (ungentlemanly conduct) and Hughes (foul)

Lewes: Legge (ungentlemanly conduct) and Hamilton (foul), McEntegart (dissent), Booth (time-wasting) and Robinson (foul) 

 

Officials:

Referee: Mark Adkins (Saltash)

Assistants: John Law (Worcester) and Paul Sparrow (Evesham) 

 

Attendance:

803

 

Man of the Match:

Official County Man of the Match: Jason Bowen

Reporter's County Man of the Match: Jason Bowen

Reporter's Lewes Man of the Match: Leon Legge

 

Conditions:

Dry and sunny/cold

 

Match Rating

3/5