Good evening, we are at The Dripping Pan where Lewes will be looking to build upon their strong start to the campaign against a struggling Leatherhead side who haven’t won since the opening day. I’m Joe Zelinger and I will be guiding you through tonight’s match.
The last meeting between these two was here at The Dripping Pan, which resulted in Leatherhead winning 1-0.
The teams are out for the warm up.
Lewes are unchanged from their 6-2 victory at Margate on Saturday.
KICK OFF: The teams are out and ready to go. Lewes get us underway.
4 mins – Lewes 0-0 Leatherhead
A slow opening few minutes but lots of fouls so far. Both sides have been awarded freekicks, but they have come to nothing.
6 mins: Lewes 0-0 Leatherhead
CHANCE! – First good chance of the game for Lewes here and it was so nearly 1-0. A great passing move eventually comes to Ollie Tanner, but his effort is tipped behind by Bowman in goal.
13 mins: Lewes 0-0 Leatherhead
CHANCE! – Tanner has been the bright spark so far in this game. He dribbles inside from the left, combines with Joe Taylor and Coleman De-Graft and is put through with only the goalkeeper to beat. But somehow he puts it wide! How did he not make it 1-0 there?
Lewes fans in great voice so far.
23 mins: Lewes 0-0 Leatherhead
It’s calmed down since the early Lewes onslaught on the Leatherhead goal.
26 mins: Lewes 0-0 Leatherhead
CHANCE! – Great opportunity for Leatherhead, their best so far. It all comes from a mistake in which Mitchell Nelson gives the ball straight to Jack Skinner. He is fouled but the referee plays advantage with the ball still being with Onokwai. He has options to his left, but goes for the long-range effort, however, Carey is equal to it.
34 mins: Lewes 0-0 Leatherhead
New signing Onokwai has the ball in the box and is trying to find the angle for a shot. However, he takes far too long to make his mind up and Nelson nicks the ball away from him. Wasteful.
GOAL – Lewes 1-0 Leatherhead (Joe Taylor 39 mins)
It’s excellent play down the right from Lewes. De-Graft plays a quick one-two with Pritchard to get around his man. His cross in towards Taylor is deflected but the striker controls it superbly, spins and fires it in off the underside of the bar. Brilliant goal and fully deserved.
40 mins: Lewes 1-0 Leatherhead
Nearly an instant response as Onokwai is played in, and takes it around the keeper and finishes, but the flag is up for offside.
RED CARD – (Ryan Huckle 43 mins)
Leatherhead have it in a good position in the box but give it away. Nelson clearance ends up sending Joe Taylor through on goal, but he is pulled down by Ryan Huckle. It’s a no-brainer for the ref as he reaches to his back pocket and shows the defender a straight red card. No complaints with that one.
GOAL – Lewes 2-0 Leatherhead (Taylor Maloney 45+1)
Things go from bad to worse for the Tanners. Maloney’s freekick takes a deflection off a Leatherhead defender and nestles in the bottom left corner. Cruel way to concede a goal, but maybe some justice after Taylor was odds on to score the chance that led to the freekick. Lewes had started to turn the screw in the last 15 minutes of this half, so a second was definitely looking likely.
HALF-TIME: Lewes 2-0 Leatherhead
So far, so good for the hosts, who will be hoping for more of the same and to make it back to back wins in the league. As for Leatherhead, they’ll need a score similar to that of their only win so far this season, 3-2 at Bowers & Pitsea, to lift themselves off the bottom of the table.
Changes for both sides at the start of this second half. Killian Colombie replaces Kenneth Yao for Lewes and Cameron Black comes on for Stephane Bombelenga.
GOAL – Lewes 3-0 Leatherhead (Bradley Pritchard 50 mins)
Really well worked goal as it’s thrown into Taylor from the left flank who shields the ball and lets it run into the path of Pritchard who picks his spot and calmly places it in the bottom corner. 3-0 and game over. Surely.
53 mins: Lewes 3-0 Leatherhead
CHANCE! – Trouble for Leatherhead again as Joe Taylor is played through but the angle is tight. He cuts back, and crosses but no one is there to meet it.
59 mins: Another change for Lewes, on comes Freddie Parker for Michael Klass.
GOAL – Lewes 4-0 Leatherhead (Joe Taylor 60 mins)
The new introduction Parker wins a corner which is aimed towards the back post. Matt Weaire finds himself free and heads it goalwards. It looks to be going in but Joe Taylor makes sure, tucking it away from two yards. Bowman got a hand to it but he had no chance really. 4-0.
64 mins: Lewes 4-0 Leatherhead
CHANCE! – Fantastic ball over the top by Nelson towards the left side of the penalty area. Lema’s interception falls perfectly for Ollie Tanner. The number 7 cuts in onto his right but it’s a big save from Bowman.
67 mins: Lewes 4-0 Leatherhead
Lewes are really zipping the ball about now. It’s like a training game for the hosts.
70 mins: Final change for the Rooks. A good shift from De-Graft who makes way for Iffy Allen.
GOAL – Lewes 5-0 Leatherhead (Iffy Allen 74 mins)
It’s the substitutes having an impact once again for Lewes. Tanner, who’s been at the heart of everything tonight finds himself in space in the box. His effort hits the post, but Iffy Allen is there to lash it in on the rebound.
78 mins: Lewes 5-0 Leatherhead
Onokwai is sudden;y played through on goal but he isn’t able to salvage a bit of pride for Leatherhead. He fires his shot over the bar.
85 mins: Lewes 5-0 Leatherhead
CHANCE! – Ollie Tanner has been absolutely superb but how hasn’t he scored? He gets himself in a great position with a brilliant weaving run into the box. He cuts in and from just a few yards is again denied by Bowman.
FULL-TIME: Lewes 5-0 Leatherhead
That’s it! Three more goals in the second half from Pritchard, Taylor and Allen add to Maloney and Taylor’s earlier efforts at the end of the opening 45. Lewes go up to 3rd in the table after a resounding victory tonight. As for Leatherhead, it’s looking bleak as they are currently 10 games without a win in the league. Lewes will be raring to go on the weekend now, with a trip to Worthing up next. Leatherhead will have to pick themselves up when they’re on the road again this Saturday at Hornchurch.
Lewes manager Tony Russell speaking to Mick Sullivan after the game:
“Would you have taken 5-0 before the game? Yes. But if you’re dissecting what happened you’d be a little bit frustrated with some of the chances we missed consistently. But it’s 3 points, clean sheet, 5 goals, that’s the positive.
Well what a season it’s looking to be in the Isthmian Premier! Especially for Lewes, they are going well so far.
Thanks for joining me tonight I thoroughly enjoyed talking you through the action. Take care.
