We were on the road again on Wednesday, this time heading south to Lewes in Sussex, where we suffered a disappointing defeat by the only goal of the game, scored eleven minutes from the end of the game. The home side fought manfully for their success, but a draw would perhaps have been a fairer result.

The early exchanges were rather cagey as both sides struggled to create openings. Arron Hopkinson threatened occasionally for Lewes down the right wing and Josh Marshall went close with a decent effort from distance. At the other end, home ‘keeper Brandon Hall did well to cling on to a low free kick from Ashley Carew and later in the half Frazer Shaw blazed over from a narrow angle following a neat corner kick routine. However there little other in the way of goalmouth action.

The second half followed much a similar pattern. Again chances were scarce and when we did manage a sight of goal we failed to test ‘keeper Hall. Harry Ottaway met a Michael Abnett cross with a firm header which flew narrowly wide; another cross from Michael Abnett, this time a low one, flashed across the face of goal with no one able to connect; and Kevin James mishit his shot wide from 12 yards after good work from Harry Ottaway and Dean McDonald. For Lewes, Sam Cole curled a shot wide from 18 yards and Hopkinson drove across the face of goal and outside. The lone goal came in the 79th minute when Nicky Wheeler delivered a low cross in from the left and, as Phil Wilson and Ethan Pinnock hesitated, Elliot Romain stooped to nod the ball in from close range. We had one last chance to equalise, when a long ball from Terrell Forbes found Harry Ottaway 15 yards out but our hardworking striker's fierce shot on the angle ended up in the side netting.