The day started off gloomy but the bad weather cleared for the 2s mid-table clash vs Chichester. The men is green went into the game with high spirits but knew victory would be hard work having not played well ‪in two weeks‬. However, pleasingly the momentum from the great victory against Eastbourne continued as Lewes put a stylish display.

The 2s started strongly, putting pressure on Chichester defence and goalkeeper. Our fist goal coming from a well threaded pass from Tom Clinch into the path of the best right back ever known as Theo Whiting. Future England hero Whiting produced some great dribbling that lead to a shot, which although being slightly mishit, found the post and fell kindly to Seb Daniels to slot in from a wide angle. 1-0 with 15 played.

The second was a goal of the season contender as Tom Clinch smashed the ball into the D and Joe Rideout produced a wonderful behind the back reverse touch that guided the ball into the bottom right past the Chichester keeper. For the remainder of the half Lewes were piling on the pressure and some superb dribbling from Oli Loader won us a short: the injection was pin point and the strike was delightfully hit into bottom corner giving Seb Daniels his 2nd and 3-0. We still had a one more first goal in us; this came form a great strike from Joe Rideout, and even though it was wayward, some fantastic positioning from Ben Wood meant that he was able to perform a masterful deflection into the net for 4-0, finishing off an impeccably executed first half by Billy Palmer, the defence, the midfield and the forwards.

A team talk that gave Lewes some much deserved rest but also an opportunity to polish some of our first half tactics, allowing us to go into the second half knowing that flood gates would continue for the rest of the game. Chichester however increased the pressure and this gave them a short corner and a drag flick meant that the score was now 4-1. This goal became the catalyst for the team spurring us on to increase the deficit. Lewes quickly attacked and a defensive error saw it fall nicely at the stick of Joe Rideout who slotted past an onrushing Chi keeper for 5-1.

Defensively Lewes remained strong with centre backs Peter Thomas and Sam Anderson dominating and wing backs Theo Whiting and Matt Denham bombing forward. Soon Ben Wood had the ball in the D but was booted by the opposing teams goalkeeper and a P-flick was awarded that was calmly placed by Joe making the score 6-1 and completing a Rideout hat trick (about time!).

For most of the game some wonderful runs from Theo Whiting accompanied by great passes from Tom Clinch gave the team opportunities and after a good one-two, Whiting found himself on the baseline, fed it to Joe Rideout who squared it to Seb Daniels gifting him with a tap in. 7-1. Our attacks persisted stemming from the dominating Jamie Cook, Tom Clinch and Sam Rea. One attack caused havoc in the Chi D as Daniels robbed a Chi defender and slipped to Harry Davenport for an easyv reverse tap-in bequeathing him with just his 3rd goal of the season. No doubt his girlfriend will be hearing about this “worldie” for days to come.

Finally, with the clock running down, from a short corner Seb Daniels side stepped the two Chichester runners and buried the ball into the bottom corner for his 4th of the game and a convincing 9-1 victory.

The win secures promotion for Lewes 2s who are 10 points ahead of 3rd placed Eastbourne with only 3 games left. Additionally Worthing 2s loss seeing them move 3 points clear at the top and fuels the push for league victory.

Match Report: Theo Whiting.
MOTM: Theo Whiting (self proclaimed but agreed but Capt Chewy)
DOTD: Harry “I’ve forgotten my match shirt” Davenport