Sub-edited by Finlay Webb
Hello everyone, my name’s Matt Billett and this my live reaction to The Isthmian League game between Lewes FC and Leatherhead FC at The Dripping Pan.
Pre-match: Lewes have made a good start to the campaign winning 5 of their opening 9 games which sees them sitting 6th in the league, only 4 points behind league leaders Kingstonian. The same can’t be said for Leatherhead, unfortunately, as they sit dead last in the table losing 8 out of their first 10, seeing previous manager Nikki Bull sacked midweek, meaning tonight will be the first glimpse of new managers; Mustafa Bashkal and Qayum Shakoor’s Leatherhead side.
Pre-match: This is what they had to say prior to kick off.
Pre-match: Team news…
Pre-match: The Pan’s ready, the teams are ready!
Kick-off: We’re underway!
5th minute: Save! Oliver Tanner forces a great save out of Leatherhead’s Myles Bowman after a cute ball from Joe Taylor set him free for a wonderful chance to open the scoring.
Lewes FC 0-0 Leatherhead FC.
12th minute: Close! How has he missed?! Leatherhead are stretched once more as Joe Taylor and Oliver Tanner again combine to open a 12-yard 1v1 for Tanner. He’ll be wondering how he’s missed; the goalkeeper hasn’t got anywhere near it, but he’s stuck it wide! Lewes coming close.
Lewes FC 0-0 Leatherhead FC.
13th minute: Save! Magical footwork and a great run by Tanner sets himself free for another great chance. But the shot goes straight at the goalkeeper Bowman, who makes a smart save and pushes it out for a corner. Pressure on Leatherhead! Tanner on fire!
Lewes FC 0-0 Leatherhead FC.
27th minute: Save! Leatherhead’s Chidubem Onokwai tries a long-range effort with not many other options on and forces a good save from Lewis Carey for his first involvement of the game. Still goalless at the Pan!
Lewes FC 0-0 Leatherhead FC.
30th minute: Save! Lewis Carey is called into action again as Onokwai blasts a shot from a tight angle which hits the frame of Carey and bounced safely back into his arms.
Lewes FC 0-0 Leatherhead FC.
36th minute: Booking! The referee pulls back play after an advantage for Leatherhead is ended by a good tackle by Michael Klass. However, thinking the referee had given the fouls for his challenge, Klass kicks the ball away in frustration, resulting in the first booking of the game.
Lewes FC 0-0 Leatherhead FC.
38th minute: Booking! The cards are coming out now. The referee takes exception to a strong challenge by leatherhead’s Guy Kiangebini who ends up in the book!
Lewes FC 0-0 Leatherhead FC.
39th minute: GOAL!!! Lewes’ Razz Coleman plays a smart pass into the box to Joe Taylor after some good footwork. Taylor holds off Ryan Huckle well and shoots on the turn from 8 yards out. Bowman gets a strong hand on it but can’t stop the ball finding the back of the net. Lewes take the lead.
Lewes FC 1-0 Leatherhead FC.
43rd minute: OFF!!! After a great ball forward by Lewes’ Kenneth Yao gets misjudged by Ryan Huckle, Taylor was clean through on goal only to be cynically taken down by Huckle. The red card comes straight out of the referee’s pocket and the games just got a whole lot harder for the new managers team.
Lewes FC 1-0 Leatherhead FC.
44th minute: GOAL!!! Lewes double their lead on the stroke of half-time as the resultant free kick deflects off the wall and ends up in the net of a stranded Myles Bowman. Taylor Maloney takes the plaudits, it’s not how he imagined it going in, but The Rook’s will not care!
Lewes FC 2-0 Leatherhead FC.
Half-time: Lewes FC 2-0 Leatherhead FC. Early pressure from Lewes didn’t seem to be paying off as a few good saves and missed chances left Bowman’s net untouched. But as the chances kept coming Lewes finally broke the deadlock and took the lead through a smartly taken goal by Joe Taylor. And after a red card for Ryan Huckle and the resultant free kick finding the back of the net, it looks to be a long hard way back into the game for Leatherhead now. Join me for the second half as I bring you the action live from the pan!
Half-time: Substitution! Lewes’ Cameron Black replaces Stephane Bombelenga.
Half-time: Substitution! Leatherhead’s Killian Colombie replaces Kenneth Yao.
Second half begins!
50th minute: GOAL!!! Lewes 3-0 Leatherhead. Lewes’ Bradley Pritchard receives the ball in the middle of the box after a few deflections. He controls it well and shoots on the turn from about 7 yards out. Again, Bowman gets a hand to it but the power on the shot takes it into the bottom right corner. The game seems dead and buried but this could be a goal fest for Lewes tonight.
Lewes FC 3-0 Leatherhead FC.
57th minute: Save! A great bit of interplay from Lewes sees Michael Klass receive the ball on the edge of the box. He takes the shot first and forces a great save out of Bowman. Could easily be 4-0 but Bowman’s still standing strong.
Lewes FC 3-0 Leatherhead FC.
59th minute: Substitution. Lewes’ Freddie Parker on for Michael Klass.
Lewes FC 3-0 Leatherhead FC.
61st minute: GOAL!!! Lewes make it 4! A great ball into the box from a corner sees Matt Weaire head it toward goal. It’s blocked by a struggling Leatherhead defence, but Taylor doubles his tally in the game by tapping it into an empty net from the deflection.
Lewes FC 4-0 Leatherhead FC.
62nd minute: Booking! Lewes’ Tom Carlse is shocked to see his name go into the book as he challenges Guy Kiangebini deep in the Leatherhead half. He didn’t think there was anything wrong with the challenge, the referee disagreed.
Lewes FC 4-0 Leatherhead FC.
66th minute: Close! Some more nice play by Lewes sees a chance open for Freddie Parker just inside the box. The keeper was struggling but luckily, he sees it go just wide. Leatherhead struggling badly.
Lewes FC 4-0 Leatherhead FC.
68th minute: Save! Some more good footwork by Tanner. He dribbles past two defenders to work some space for a shot on goal, it’s straight at the keeper though and he gathers simply.
Lewes FC 4-0 Leatherhead FC.
70th minute: Substitution. Lewes’ Iffy Allen on for Razz Coleman.
Lewes FC 4-0 Leatherhead FC.
74th minute: GOAL!!! Substitute Iffy Allen gets straight in in the action and scores Lewes’ 5th goal of the evening. Tanner could’ve had a hat trick tonight and sees another shot just miss the target. Luckily for Lewes, it strikes the post and falls straight to Allen’s feet, who fires it home first time. Still more goals in this game you feel.
Lewes FC 5-0 Leatherhead FC.
78th minute: Close! Leatherhead finally get a sight of goal as Ononkwai goes clean through. It looked as though a consolation goal was going to be scored spoiling The Rooks clean sheet, but the shot goes just wide of the post from the 18-yard line. Should be 5-1 but as it stands Lewes still have a clean sheet.
Lewes FC 5-0 Leatherhead FC.
78th minute: Substitution. Leatherhead’s Callum Manning on for Jack Skinner.
Lewes FC 5-0 Leatherhead FC.
85th minute: Save! Tanner’s starting to get frustrated as he still can’t add his name to the scoresheet. His quick feet again take him past a few defenders, and he manages to create space for another shot in goal. This effort made it a lot harder for Bowman, but he pulls off a very good save to keep it at 5. Nevertheless, a great performance by Tanner tonight despite not getting a goal under his belt.
Lewes FC 5-0 Leatherhead FC.
93rd minute: Save! Very nearly 6 on the stroke of the full-time whistle for Lewes. Once again, the chance falls to Freddie Parker and he struck it sweetly from just inside the area. He wonders how it’s been saved but Bowman gets a strong hand to it and pushes it wide. It could’ve been 8 or 9 if it wasn’t for Bowman’s shot stopping tonight.
Lewes FC 5-0 Leatherhead FC.
Full time: Lewes FC 5-0 Leatherhead FC. Lewes’ Joe Taylor earns the man of the match award tonight after scoring a brace in the goal fest tonight which saw Lewes put 5 past Leatherhead. Lewes looked strong from the start but after the breakthrough and the red card that followed shortly after, the game was only going in one direction. The score line could’ve been even greater if it wasn’t for Myles Bowman. But in any case, it was the worst possible start for the new managers, and they’ll be hoping to forget this one quickly and get the players ready for their next game away at Hornchurch this Saturday. Lewes make the trip to Worthing this weekend hoping to keep the winning form going and with the way they’re performing at the moment, you wouldn’t bet against them. Are Lewes going up this season?? Are Leatherhead going down?? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
Post-match: You can watch the match highlights here…
Post-match: You can watch post-match interview with Lewes manager Tony Russell here…
Post-match: You can watch post-match interview with Leatherhead managers Mustafa Bashkal and Qayum Shakoor here…
That’s all from me! Thanks so much for joining me. See you next time!
