Lewes FC must turn moments into consistent performances, says Nelson
Lewes manager Craig Nelson said his side’s positive moments must now “turn into consistency” following a dramatic 3-3 draw at Hashtag United.
As they attempted to open up a gap above the Isthmian Premier Division relegation zone last Saturday, Lewes were pinned back from leading 2-1 and 3-2 to leave Essex with a point.
They were then denied the chance to push on as their midweek game with Billericay Town was called off at late notice due to persistent rainfall.
Ultimately, the Rooks enter the upcoming weekend in the same position they did last weekend, sat in 16th place and five points clear of the drop zone.
Reflecting on last Saturday’s result, Nelson said: “To take a point is better than to leave with none, but I think if we’d got the basics right, we could’ve left with all three.
“There’s positives. We scored three goals, and in recent games, we haven’t scored goals. In possession, we had great moments but the moments have to turn into consistency. When they do, we’ll start to win games of football.”
With eight points taken from Nelson’s first seven matches back at Lewes, there have been positives about how the team have adjusted.
Only four players who started Bradley Pritchard’s final game were in the starting XI at Hashtag, showing the scale of change in just five weeks.
The defensive frailties that led to three recent defeats were again on show in Essex, but there was a stronger second-half display that could have led to victory.
Nelson said: “The boys did well to stay in the game. But we were far too open defensively - they missed two or three chances before half-time. We could’ve gone into half time three or four down.
“I thought they were much better in the second half. But we can’t be open like that and can’t expect to concede three goals and win games of football.”
This weekend, Lewes welcome 4th-placed Dartford to The Dripping Pan for another huge fixture in their attempt to kick-start their season.
The game will offer Rooks fans a chance to see new signing Alex Kpakpé in action. The former Chelsea academy defender impressed in his debut at Hashtag.
“He’s got a great physical profile and he’s left-footed, so in the way we want to play, he can play at left centre-half or left-back, and he’s good in the air,” said Nelson.