United lost at Lewes this afternoon, throwing away the chance to end a difficult week with a second win in a row. Captain Joe Burnell's first goal of the season had given them the advantage, but old boy Michael Standing stabbed home an equaliser and then Sam Gargan smashed home a winner to give the home side their first win of the season.
On a baking hot afternoon at the Dripping Pan United kept an unchanged side after the win over Cambridge, and despite the sweltering conditions United started at a high tempo and had two half chances in the opening fifteen minutes as Phil Trainer and then James Constable both got the the edge of the area but saw their shots go straight at home keeper Rikki Banks. Jamie Guy then fired three yards wide from the edge of the area, Constable headed home when offside, and United were carrying on where they had left off in their last game.
Lewes were reliant on big striker Sam Gargan in open play, with veteran Scott Taylor looking to feed off his flicks, but looked dangerous at set plays where the United back line needed to be disciplined and organised.With Billy Turley in commanding form and the central pairing of Luke Foster and Karleigh Osborne strong in the tackle and more than ably supported by full backs James Clarke and Chris Caruthers The U's rarely looked troubled and that gave them a solid base to launch their attacks from.
The clearest chance fell to Guy just after the half hour as he robbed the hesitant Mayo and advanced on goal. He did the right thing in firing across the keeper but overcooked it and sent his right footed shot narrowly wide of the far post with Banks beaten.On 35 minutes a corner from Trainer was met at the far post by Constable and cleared off the line by Mayo, with Odubade firing the loose ball into the bank of terracing behind the goal, all of which meant frustration at half time.
Trainer and Constable had been doubts before the game but had put in good shifts for their side before being replaced by Lewis Haldane and Sam Deering early in the second half, a period of the game which coincided with Lewes's best spell. Gargan's header aganst the post on 59 minutes lifted the previously quiet home crowd, even if he had already been flagged offside, but United were largely untroubled up until that point and for all the world it looked as though their opening goal was going to put them in control.
It came on 62, and very well worked it was too. Deering rolled a corner on the left short for Haldane on the left edge of the box. Haldane twisted and crossed an inviting ball in and captain Burnell twisted every sinew to arrow a superb header into the corner of the net, giving the keeper no chance whatsoever. Burnell has reponded in great style since assuming the captain's role and his first goal for the club was a reward for yet another all action display. Surely United would now flourish?
Well, no. All the goal did was wake Lewes up and inspire them to their famous first victory. Burnell was vitally important at the other end on 75 as he got his head to a Standing free kick to clear the danger from under the bar, but United were then undone by a very preventable goal. A hopeful long ball on 80 should have been food and drink to the defence but for some reason nobody took command and the ball bobbled through for Standing to stab under Turley from ten yards to equalise against his former club.
A soft goal and a kick in the teeth. A second succesive win would have done wonders for The Yellows, but instead there were only ' what might have beens' and late pressure, which ended when Standing's deep corner dropped perfectly for Gargan to volley home the winner. Poor defending again, although a fine ball in, and all the hard work against Cambridge had been thrown away in the last fifteen minutes of a game the U's should have won.
The home fans will talk about it for years. United's magnificent away support will try hard to forget the whole experience.
Att: 1,156
Report Chris Wiliams. Stats by PA Sports
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