With Horsham 4s comfortably top of the league and the Mens 5s currently bottom and missing a core part of their team expectations were not high for the boys in green as the headed to Tanbridge school for their final away game of the first half of the season.

The 5s plan was to try to frustrate Horsham and make them earn everything, thinking more about not losing their relatively good goal difference than actually earning any points. The 5s forwards of Ashley, Mark and Curtis led the press and was clear early on that Horsham weren't comfortable under pressure and numerous turnovers in their own 23 gave Lewes hope. The hosts were restricted to the odd counter attack as the 5s dominated play for the first 25mins but it was Horsham who took the lead, Lewes heads didn't drop and went straight back at Horsham and Mark's ball across from the right was deflected by Alan to Sandy who finished first time, the 5s weren't done and barely a minute later they were in a much deserved lead, again a ball in from the right causing the trouble Ashley's shot well saved by the home keeper but the ball fell to Curtis who fired it across into the far corner. Just before the break Horsham converted a PC to make it 2-2 at the break.

The second half was more of an even affair but Lewes were still doing all they could to frustrate Horsham, the midfield of James W, JC, Oli, Sandy and Alan worked tirelessly throughout to both back up the forwards and track back to defend, Mark forced a great save from the home keeper in a one on one and Curtis and Oli were combining well down the right.
Horsham scored a controversial third goal when during the second phase of a PC Simon was in position to clear the loose ball only to be bundled over and the attacker then swept the ball in, after the umpires had a long chat they apologised saying that neither had a clear view of the incident so the goal stood.
With Lewes slightly rattled Horsham had their only dominant part of the game in the following minutes, the defence of James H, Simon, Peter and Julien with 6s captain Kevin making his 5s keeper debut were excellent throughout, after Julien made a great block as #1 runner on a PC Horsham had to go wider for future corners, it was one of these that led to the next goal a PC shot from wide was blocked in front of goal by James's foot to give him a matching bruise to the other foot picked up in the previous game. The P flick was converted.
Horsham tried to play out the game by keeping possession but Lewes found their second wind and again were pressing the hosts into mistakes, Curtis especially, at one point he chased back from the Horsham 'D' to make a tackle in the Lewes right back position, impressive. The 5s earned a P flick of their own when Mark's shot was blocked by a foot on the line, Mark gave the keeper no chance, with less than a minute to go Lewes pressed hard hoping for one final chance which didn't come. Horsham commented afterwards that they didn't know how the 5s were bottom of the league as they hadn't been pushed so hard this season.

The 5s walked off with their heads held high, definitely their best performance of the season, everyone made a significant contribution to the effort and put the team first. If they can carry this into future games the results will come and they will move off the bottom of the table, they finish the first half of the season next Saturday with a home game at Falmer against Crowborough 2s.