Well, that was fun. wasn’t it?

After a second-half collapse against Chatham on Saturday, Rooks fans could be forgiven for feasting on their fingernails when the teams emerged for the second half, the Rooks with only a slender one-goal lead to defend this time. What’s more, the fella who’d given us that lead from the penalty spot, centre-back Harry Mills, had already retired with groin knack, resulting in big Tyrese Owen being deployed as an emergency centre-back. Not exactly a recipe for a none-shall-pass defensive shut-out.

But the Rooks had no intention of whacking eleven men behind the ball and hoping for the best this time. Instead, they attacked the second half like me attacking a double cheeseburger and chips at half-time. Ryan Gondoh was the chief protagonist, flashing a shot across the face of the goal with the second half mere seconds old, and doing so again just moments later, after the ref had waved away a Carshalton defender handling the ball in the box like Shaquille O’Neal winning a tip-off in the NBA (yes, all my references are achingly topical).

The dam burst on the 49th minute when Charlie Walker prodded home a shot at the second attempt, scoring his fifth goal in 11 days. He only scored six times in the entirety of last season.

We then went on to produce the best second half of football I’ve seen a Rooks side deliver since Tony Russell’s side minced Margate 6-2 in 2021. We could easily have scored six here too, with Noel Fisher curling one just wide of the upright, Walker hooking a cross over the bar, and other very presentable chances going awry.

However, Ryan Gondoh’s goal was a bit special. He raced towards goal, left poor Ethan Kaiser on his arse on the edge of the box, before rounding the keeper and going for a little sit down himself in celebration.

By this stage, the confidence was overflowing like a Southern Water treatment plant after a mild shower. “They’re showboating,” remarked Tall James, after one 58-pass period of possession. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen Lewes showboating,” he said, with a slightly disapproving tone. Don’t worry about him. He’s from Dundee.

Even the second-half arrival of Carshalton’s Jordan Maguire-Drew, who looks like he’s finally off my cheeseburger diet, did nothing to disrupt the flow.

So, up to fourth in the table, and having played several of the fancied teams away from home, I think we can officially declare this a “good start” to the season, the perennial FA Cup disappointment aside. We’ve already played a fifth of our league games. I’m already looking forward to visiting Cheshunt on Saturday. I’ve definitely never said that before.

Lewes: Rogers, Mundele (Cox), Spinks (Hamstead), Mills (Garzon), Enkh, Briggs, Owen, Allen, Gondoh, Fisher, Walker (Unwin)

Unused sub: Bassett

Supporters Club player of the match: There were five or six strong contenders, not least Walker, Allen and Owen, but Ryan Gondoh was different gravy – he tormented their defence all night, and scored a slalom special.