Rooks take it on the Chin

Lewes manager Jimmy Quinn handed a debut to ex-Molesey midfielder Danny Wright, and also opted to the tactical shape which has served his side so well on their rise up the non-league pyramid. The wing backs were discarded in favour of a 4-4-1-1 formation, with Paul Kennett playing just behind lone striker Tony Reid.

With a strong wind at their backs the Rooks dominated the opening half hour, with Julian Curnow forcing a good save from Moroccan international Chuck Martini as well as having a header cleared off the line, and Kennett's superb volley rebounding off the crossbar. Yet it was the home side who went in front when a long free kick skiddied off the sodden turf, cannoned into Tony Chin's shin and trickled into the corner of the net.

However, by the interval, the Rooks had established a deserved lead, although it must be said that Martni was at fault for both goals. First he dropped a Danny Davis corner and Reid bundled home the loose ball, and then, in first half stoppage time, he allowed a Kennett shot to squirm through his grasp.

The home side were predictably much improved after the break, but Russell Tanner had still to make a save when the equaliser arrived in the most controversial of circumstances. Referee Mr Salt had already made a series of baffling decisions in favour of the home side, but these paled into insignificance compared with his inability to conclude that Ravens' striker Wade Falana had guided home a corner from the right with his fist.

As if to rub salt into the wound, the Bromley winner was also distinctly fortunate, although on this occasion the hapless officials played no part in it. A speculative 25 yard effort from substitute Adolph Amoako was going wide until it deflected off Chin and looped into the top corner of the net.

Quinn threw on Lee Newman and Gareth Green for the last quarter of an hour as Lewes strove desperately for the equaliser, which was the very least they deserved from the encounter.

Reid just failed to connect with Graham Harper's cross and Curnow was again denied by Martini as the home defence looked increasingly jittery, but, despite copious amounts of time added on because of the furore which followed the Bromley equaliser, the men from Kent held on to their advantage.

So a hugely frustrating evening for the Rooks and their dedicated band of travelling supporters, but with a little bit of luck the run of eight games without a win may just come to an end tomorrow (Saturday) against Epsom and Ewell.

LEWES: Tanner, Venables, Dickson, Kennett, Chin, Cable, Curnow, Davis (Newman 75), Reid, Clark (Harper 53), Wright (Green 75). MOM: Marc Cable

Lewes's much anticipated derby clash with Worthing was postponed on Saturday.