Lewes aim for fifth win on trot after Cray Wanderers and Three Bridges are beaten
Lewes are chasing a fifth win in as many games as they welcome strugglers Maldon & Tiptree to The Dripping Pan this Saturday.
The Rooks are riding high in 2nd place in the Isthmian Premier Division table after a fine recent run, impressing in their response to early exits from the FA Cup and FA Trophy.
In the last week, they continued their momentum with consecutive 2-1 victories at Cray Wanderers and Three Bridges.
The trip to Cray allowed the Rooks to avenge a 1-0 FA Cup exit at the same ground a month earlier, with Tyler Cox and Ryan Gondoh goals securing victory.
Craig Nelson’s side had to rotate, with 17-year-old Bromley loanee Jonathan Haftom slotting into central defence amid an injury crisis, while Danny Bassett and Ben Mundele were absent.
On top of that, the Rooks lost captain Andrew Briggs to an ankle injury on the stroke of half-time and had to survive at 2-1 up for the entire second half.
Nonetheless, Cox’s early strike and Gondoh’s 20-yard stunner were enough to secure the three points.
On Tuesday night, Lewes repeated the trick.
With Tyler Christian-Law handed a first league start of 2026-27 and Harry Mills returning from injury to replace Haftom, the Rooks started well, taking the lead through Brian Garzon’s 14th-minute screamer.
Three Bridges, guided by two former Rooks in Jamie Crellin and Joe Kay, made things tricky, with stern defending and an attacking system without a central striker.
The hosts equalised through Ade Adeyinka’s 31st-minute rebound to a penalty saved by Louis Rogers.
A scrappy second half followed, with Lewes holding on before Noel Fisher’s opportune 73rd-minute finish.
Speaking after the game, manager Craig Nelson said: “Credit to Three Bridges. In the first half, they were really good. They played through us way too often for my liking.
“They didn't allow us to gain any momentum or rhythm to play the way that we want to. [We were] a bit unlucky to concede the way we did, but we can't dangle legs in areas like that.
“I feel it's a lucky victory because I don't think we played particularly well to deserve the three points. But sometimes you have to take the chances that are presented to you, and we did in those moments.”
Next, the Rooks welcome 19th-placed Maldon, who have faced huge difficulties since promotion from the Isthmian Division One North.
The club changed ownership as its previous buyers faced 18 legal charges and were forced to sell as the Isthmian League suspended the club from playing two fixtures.
The Jammers also changed management in September and have lost their last eight matches in all competitions.
Kick-off this Saturday is 3pm.