In an entertaining and competitibe match at the Dripping Pan, Lewes took the lead with just 13 minutes to go when the impressive Seb Wallis-Tayler ran on to a delightful through ball from Matt Geard and slid the ball past Brighton keeper John Sullivan into the far corner of the net.

The goal delighted Rooks fans in the bumper 1,589 crowd – and provided much-needed hope for the coming season's for Lewes fans after the traumatic events of the close season.

However, just when home fans were sensing a surprise win over their League One neighbours, a Geard clearance ricocheted unluckily off the referee and into the path of Loft, who finished with aplomb from just inside the penalty area.

Lewes had had their chances to take the lead earlier in the game. Sullivan was called into making saves to deny Danny Davis and Chamal Fenelon early on, while Andrew Whing did well to deny Scott Taylor. At the other end, the home defence for the main part stood up to Albion's attacks manfully and generally looked solid.

There was a flashpoint on the 72 minute mark when Dean Cox reacted angrily to an over-zealous challenge from Davis. A number of players became involved in the resulting scuffle, with Cox's shirt being ripped, before both Cox and Davis were shown yellow cards.

Then came the two late goals. While Lewes boss Kevin Keehan would have no doubt relished the bragging rights over his friend and former colleague Adams, he was more than happy with his ever-burgeoning squad's performance. And Adams himself was certainly impressed with the Blue Square Premier side's display.

Albion had played four friendlies in eight days before Saturday's encounter, and Adams said, "We were very leggy, very lethargic. "But whilst it wasn't a performance we could sit back and enjoy we take something out of it."

When asked how he though Lewes had performed, he said, "Fantastic. I thought they were magnificent today. They gave us a real test and they've signed some good players – players that we know about. Danny Cullip is a fantastic leader and they're going to need all that leadership quality next season."

Looking ahead to Lewes's debut season in the Blue Square Premier, Adams said, "On today's performance you have to say that they'll be ok, I think they will anyway. I certainly hope they will because I've got a lot of respect for Lewes Football Club in general but mainly for Kevin Keehan. He's a good man.

"Everybody's written them off and that should be the main focus of motivation for Kevin and his boys."

Adams admitted he was surprised by the physicality of the Lewes players. He said, "They were very enthusiastic, that's for sure. At times they caught us out with the ferocity of their challenges, but that woke us up a little bit as well.

"We needed that. We've had it too easy and all our own way in all of the pre-season friendlies so far but certainly we didn't have that today."

Keehan admitted, "I'm very happy, I thought it was a fair result in the end.

"The whole point of friendlies is a learning curve. Mick knew what formation we were going to play beforehand and he caused us a few problems. We tried to change at half time to combat what he was trying to do and that worked for us.

"The result was not really relevant. It would have been lovely to have won 1-0 but the result's not the important thing, it's about us learning and about us improving and that's been great for us, that game today.

"I thought we started off ever so well. The first 20 minutes we passed it and we caused the Albion problems. Then they started getting it to their full backs and they were causing us problems, and we had to work hard.

"But we're going to try and play. We're not going to match anyone at fighting – although Mick thought at one point we were a bit over agressive! But we're going to try and pass it and try and play and make it entertaining. Football is an entertainment and hopefully people will come on a regular basis.

"We were keen to get Danny (Cullip) out today, it's just a bit early for him to play. But you think, with the performance today where's he going to play!

"After Tuesday's game there were question marks about certain players that I had and they answered me today. And now I've got a nice dilemma because fortunately it's a friendly we've got next week and I'll find out more.

"But I haven't got to worry about if I leave someone out. when you think it wasn't long ago when we didn't have any players at all."
Danny Davis signed a contract with Lewes before the match on Saturday. The terms of the contract are yet to be finalised.

ROOKS (starting line-up): Banks, Barness, Wallis-Tayler, Richards, Graves, Breach, Davis, Keehan, Fenelon, Taylor, Rowland. Subs: Barton, Beda, Capps, Beveney, S Cox, Geard. ATT: 1,589.