Long time coming: Allen delighted to be Lewes’ Trophy saviour

21-year-old Allen made his 15th appearance of the 2024/25 season against Ashford and found the net with a scorching 20-yard effort in the 92nd minute to take the tie to penalties, where the Rooks won 8-7.

“It felt very good. A few of my teammates would say it's been a long time coming,” said Allen. “I've had a few opportunities in front of goal. I’ve kind of over-thought them, but this one, Nabeel [Ghannam] laid it off very well, and I just thought I had to get my knee over the ball and keep it on the ground.

“Luckily, it went in the bottom corner, and we won on penalties. It was a good feeling.”

In the resulting shoot-out, Allen was not expecting to play a key role again. Not assigned as one of the first five takers, the former Dulwich Hamlet midfielder eventually stepped up eighth in the Lewes running order. Again, Allen found the net with aplomb, sending ex-Chelsea academy goalkeeper Mitchell Beeney the wrong way and setting up Toby Bull’s decisive ninth penalty.

“I wouldn't say I'm the most confident when I've got time to think about it,” said Allen. “The goal in the game, it just happened within seconds. But with a penalty, you’ve got a long walk up to the penalty box, and then you’ve got to take the penalty. But luckily, that was my second finish in the game, so I’ll take that.”

Throughout the shoot-out, there were some fascinating mind games at play amongst both teams’ players and staff. As has been the case previously this season, goalkeeper Bull received sage advice from the Lewes bench, including head of analysis, Kevin Rawlinson.

“There were a few fingers from where we were standing on the halfway line. There was one penalty, unfortunately, where it went in even though we were pointing the right way,” said Allen. “But there were a few that we knew where they were going. Luckily, Toby is a good enough goalkeeper to save them.”

Despite the Rooks’ eventual success, Allen also admitted that penalties had not been a big focus in the game’s build-up.

Asked if they had been busy practicing penalties, Allen said: “No, believe it or not. But luckily, we pulled through in the end. People took good penalties, and then we relied on Toby to save one. It was good teamwork all around.”

Speaking of teamwork, there was huge praise for Lewes substitutes Ghannam and Tolu Ladapo after they changed the game in the final 20 minutes, both providing assists to level things up at 2-2. The two wingers have had limited starts this season but are coming into their own of late, and had their moment in the sun against Ashford.

“It's a big credit to our substitutes,” said Allen. “I know it's hard for them that they've not been getting the game time they want, but the boys have got around them in the changing room and said their time will come. They've just got to take their opportunity.

“It was the same against Horsham; Josh [Williams] and Tolu changed the game even though we lost. But the substitutes really pulled through again, so credit to them.”

With the Rooks’ place in the FA Trophy Second Round now secure - where they will host AFC Totton on Saturday 16 November - and manager Craig Nelson back in the dugout this weekend, the aim will now be to kick on in all competitions.

Lewes head to 15th-placed Chatham Town this Saturday in a repeat of the match which so memorably started the 2024/25 season. As the Rooks’ squad have often said in recent weeks, carrying momentum will be the focus as they head up to the River Medway.

“We've always got to take how we finish the game, take the win, and just look forward,” said Allen. “We've had a bit of a tough spell in the league, but I think we've got the players to evidently do it. It's about being consistent, starting from minute one and taking into the league now.”