Lewes 3 vs Folkestone Invicta 2: Home but not dry

I haven’t seen a carpet that wet since the Fresher’s Week incident we don’t talk about, but Lewes narrowly prospered in the deluge.

Full credit to Roger and the other volunteers who were brushing water off the pitch before the game to get it on. Even still, we must have been on the cusp of a second successive postponement, with lots of standing water. There was one moment early in the first half when Tyrique Hyde slid on for a challenge and then aquaplaned on his arse for a good ten yards. Thoughts and prayers with Kit Man Clive.

Lewes took full advantage of the first-half conditions, not least when Joe Taylor gave us the lead on 14 minutes. This was more like the Taylor of last season, pouncing on every opportunity. His low shot from the edge of box skimmed over the soppy surface like a stone, taking a nick off the palm of Folkestone keeper Bailey Vose before nestling in the bottom corner with a hugely satisfying splosh.

Sadly, that lead lasted about as long as a mouse’s fart. A free-kick from the left wasn’t dealt with and Robbie Dolan ghosted in at the back post to prod in an equaliser from point-blank range.

The moans had barely subsided before we retook the lead from the restart. Razz conjured up a little magic down the left wing, cutting past his man and pulling the ball back to Reece Murrell-Williamson, whose fierce shot deflected in off the hapless Vose to reinstate our lead. It was raining cats, dogs and goals.

Taylor added his second on 35 minutes. Razz was the provider once more, driving a low shot from the edge of the box that Vose could only scoop up in the air, into the path of a poaching Bastard.

Any hopes Folkestone may surrender in the showers quickly evaporated. The post only spared us from an immediate reply, after an almighty goalmouth scramble, but it wasn’t much longer before Folkestone piled in a second. Ian Draycott – surely the only Kingy-era Lewes player to still be in active circulation – scored the goal, after a looping cross from the left-hand side was headed straight into his path.

So far, so Keegan’s Newcastle. But if the first half was a goalfest, the second was a damp squib. And you know what? I think that’s a good thing. Because we’ve not been particularly great at grinding out results this season, and although we came under some pressure in that second half and relied on Lew Carey to make a couple of very decent saves, we held out for three much-needed points.

That’s seven unbeaten now and a bit of gentle momentum building. We need to tighten up at the back, but you can’t complain when you’re winning in the rain.

Lewes: Carey, Elva-Fountaine, Mascoll, Salmon, Champion, Young, Hyde, Pritchard, Murrell-Williamson, Coleman De-Graft, Taylor

Subs: Nelson, Olukoga, Skinner, Dalling, Renee

Supporters Club man of the match: Toss up between Taylor (back to his Bastardish best) and Carey (mopping up the Folkestone chances)

GET WELL SOON, BRIAN!

Everyone at the Supporters Club wishes Brian ‘Badgeman’ Ashdown a speedy return to health!

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