FT – Lewes 2 (Walker 90+2, 90+4) Cray Wanderers 2 (Yusuff 18, Kader 78)
Full Report & Photos to follow
It ends in an FA Cup replay as two Charlie Walker goals in added time leveled a tie for Lewes that Cray led after goals from Ade Yusuff and Soul Kader.
The replay is due for Tuesday 8th September.
On a gloriously sunny afternoon Cray came close in the opening five minutes when Frankie Raymond’s right wing corner found Sammie McLeod but his header was hooked away off the line.
Cray took the lead in the 18th minute when down the left Alex Hernandez’ free kick was met by a fine header from Ade Yusuff for his fourth of the season.
The Wands were the better side and Hernandez hit a well struck volley over from Tobi Tinibu’s cross and from a centrally placed free kick Hernandez saw a couple of blocked efforts by the wall and then fired over.
For Lewes who had won the last four games ex-Wand Danny Bassett cut inside from the right and shot over.
Cray came close when Soul Kader’s looping cross-shot was deflected off Josh Spinks and over.
Then before the break Tyrese Owen headed off target for Lewes but Cray played well first half.
Cray began the second half on the front foot. The ever dangerous Ola Ogunwamide following a clearance from Louis Rogers hooked an effort over from 25 yards. Then Hernandez down the left saw his near post shot pushed out well by Rogers.
Then Ogunwamide’s cross found the impressive Tinibu whose header was blocked and his attempted acrobatic volley was cleared. Then Ogunwamide was unlucky to see his effort down the left go across goal and wide.
Lewes began to stir and Calum Newson headed off target. Then from a Tom Bender throw Tyler Cox hooked an effort over.
In the 78th minute Cray after soaking up pressure made it 2-0 as Kader received the ball out of the left and cleverly lofted the ball over Rogers for his first goal of his loan spell.
Lewes looked to reply and Andrew Briggs saw a shot held by Henry Molyneux.
There were 9 minutes added on following a couple of lengthy stoppages for injuries including Sammie McLeod.
In the second minute of added time The Rooks pulled a goal back when substitute Charlie Walker went through after hesitation at the back and lifted a shot into the net.
This left a spell of having to hang on but to no avail as two minutes later it was 2-2 when a ball into the area was glanced goalwards by Walker and was hooked away off the line but perhaps controversially was deemed to have crossed the line.
I sense neither team wanted a replay but despite both teams chasing the win a draw it was but for a Wands perspective felt like a rare chance for a win at Lewes had slipped by . It seems strange we drew at Lewes exactly a year ago in the league except that time Lewes were 2-0 up.
It will be FA Cup Replay Midweek at Flamingo Park as not only did Cray draw with Lewes, AFC Whyteleafe drew at Crowborough likely meaning a Wednesday replay.
More details to follow.
Molyneux, Lema, Strachan, Morgan, Tinibu, Raymond, McLeod (Payne 87), Ogunwamide, Yusuff, Hernandez, Kader: Subs: Johnson, Haftom, Cole, Atkins, Chapman, Berry
Booked: Yusuff
Att: 473
