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Early goal not enough for Blues

BISHOP’S STORTFORD 1 LEWES 2

(BOSTIK LEAGUE – PREMIER DIVISION)

a6THE manager-of-the-month curse struck against as Lewes moved above the Blues and into second place in the Bostik Premier table,

The Sussex side fought back from conceding an early goal to take maximum points in a well contested match in which the visitors’ organisation particularly at the back shone through.

The hosts named an unchanged starting line-up but included teenager Haaroon Belaid on the bench. Belaid had made his senior debut against Welwyn Garden City in the Herts Senior Cup nearly two months ago.

a5Stortford stopper Calum Kitscha saved well from Henri Wilder but almost immediately, in the third minute, the Blues were ahead when Jamie Cureton flicked on for Ryan Charles to run through and beat keeper Lewis Carey.

Six minutes later Ryan Henshaw almost doubled the lead when he headed against the outside of the post from a Cureton cross.

a8Luke Callander also went close but the Rooks were on level terms with Dayshonne Golding’s pass finding James Hammond in space to net from eight yards.

This proved the turning point as the Sussex side took control. A Stacey Freeman header was held under the bar by Kitscha and the keeper also held a shot from Kieron Pamment.

Ten minutes before the interval, Jonte Smith was off target with a header whilst a pile-driver from Michael Dome-Bemwin was turned over the top by Kitscha.

a3Cureton threatened in the opening minute of the restart and then the league’s top marksman had a shot deflected over the bar.

a1But, in the 55th minute Lewes took the lead following Pamment’s deep free-kick from the right to the far post. Substitute Luke Blewden’s header was well saved by Kitscha but skipper Frankie Chappell was on hand to fire home from close range.

Stortford came more into the picture in the final 20 minutes but they were foiled from grabbing an equaliser by a number of strong blocks by visiting defenders while Charles finished a run at goal with a shot just over the target,

a7At the start of added time danger from Cureton was cut out by an excellent tackle just inside the box by Freeman as Lewes held on to inflict only the second league defeat of Steve Smith’s and Cureton’ s managerial reign..

STORTFORD: Calum Kitscha; Ben Sampayo; Chris Gregan; Jack Thomas; Sam Robbins; Ryan Henshaw; Alfie Mason; Johnville Renee; Jamie Cureton; Luke Callander (Hector Kyprianou 62); Ryan Charles.

Unused substitutes: Isaac Nkosi, Nick Brown, Olly Miles and Haaroon Belaida2

LEWES: Lewis Carey; Steve Brinkhurst; Henri Wilder; Michael Dome-Bemwin (Luke Blewden 52); Frankie Chappell; Stacey Freeman; Dayshonne Golding; James Hammond; Jonte Smith (Marcus Elliott 77); Omarr Lawson; Kieron Pamment.

Unused substitutes: Tom Day, Harry Reed and Callum Overton.

Referee: Mr Thomas Hancock

Attendance: 322