Nelson’s Rooks reminder sparks comeback for vital point
Lewes manager Craig Nelson said “reminding them who we are” inspired his players to produce a crucial comeback in their 2-2 draw with Canvey Island.
With the Rooks trailing 2-0 to the Isthmian Premier Division’s bottom side at half-time, fears would have spread about being drawn back into the relegation mix.
Second-half goals from Charlie Walker and Alex Kpakpe, however, ensured Lewes avoided defeat at The Dripping Pan and maintained their seven-point buffer over the drop zone.
“You can't give teams that are fighting to stay in the league any lift in momentum to be able to win a game of football, and the two chances that they put in the back of the net ended up leaving us two-nil down,” said Nelson.
“For me, they are preventable goals, and if we came out and played as we did in the second half [for 90 minutes], we could have easily won that game.
“Upstairs at half-time, I was reminding them who we are and [about] not folding under the pressure, because I've seen it too often recently.”
Five matches now remain for the Rooks, who will benefit from Hashtag United’s decision to seek voluntary demotion, therefore taking up one of the division’s four relegation spots.
With Hashtag currently occupying 19th place on 35 points, the gap between Lewes and the other three relegation spots extends to eight points.
Three more wins would guarantee the Rooks’ survival, but they are unlikely to be required to produce that much.
With two big games coming up this Easter weekend, with a Friday afternoon trip to Potters Bar and a Monday contest at home to Whitehawk, Lewes are keen to finish on a high.
The Sussex derby is a particular motivator for the squad.
“I've said to the boys time and time again, if there's one game that you win in this late run-in, it should be that one,” said Nelson.
“We want to make sure that we can give the fans something back that day. We will be fit, firing and roaring for that game.”
Ahead of the run-in, the Rooks have been boosted by the returns of Jack Enkh and Jerry Puemo, who last played for the side in the 2025-26 season.
Other players joining until the end of the season are centre-back Nikolai Krokhin, goalkeeper Alfie Mansell and loanees Charlie Paye (from Bromley) and Jackson King (from Wycombe Wanderers).
Meanwhile, Jack Burchell and George Nunn have departed the club.