Birmingham denies Lewes

THOUGH they would probably have taken a point before kick off, Tuesday was a night of disappointment for Lewes. Michael Birmingham's injury time equaliser, which came after the rooks had come from behind to lead through Julian Curnows 81st minute header, cost them the chance of pulling clear of Bognor.

Jimmy Quinn made three changes from the team which crashed against Croydon. Chris Dickson and Matt Allen made way for Junior Kamara and Lee Newman, and Tony Chin came in for the suspended Marc Cable. Justin Harris and Stuart Hack were the only survivors from the team which won the Senior Cup three years ago, whereas Jack Pearce named nine players who played that day.

Bognor dominated the first half, with their passing and movement giving Lewes all sorts of problems. Their first clear chance came in the 25th minute, as Lee Stevens sprung the offside trap but shot wide. Five minutes later they were ahead. Michael Birmingham crossed from the right and Matt Russell stooped to head past Russell Tanner.

Jack Pearce had gone for a three-pronged attack, with Russell playing behind the strikers, and that was giving them the initiative. They nearly extended their lead just before half time, but Tanner saved well from Jamie Howell.

Lewes were vastly improved in the second half, as they seized control of midfield and pushed the rocks back. Craig Stoner did well to keep out a Curnow header but could do nothing about the Rooks 58th minute equaliser. A slick, quick counter attack involving Danny Davis and Paul Kennett set up Newman who finished superbly.

Lewes were by then well on top, and could have been ahead when Newman set up Allen, but the strikers lob went agonisingly wide.

It looked increasingly inevitable that they would score, and they did with just nine minutes left. Davis swung a free kick over from the right, and Curnow, arriving late at the back post headed past Stoner. It was a sweet moment for the ex Bognor player.

To their great credit the rocks didn't panic, and continued to try to play round the rooks, who were dropping far too deep. They got their reward in the fourth minute of injury time, as Jody Rowland crossed from the left and Michael Birmingham's simple header saved his side a point and cost Lewes two.

Lewes: TANNER, CHIN, HARRIS, HACK, KAMARA, DAVIS, CURNOW, KENNETT, TAYLOR (Allen 58) NEWMAN, (Soutar 88) REID (Venables 78). MOM: Stuart Hack