Lewes FC
A disappointing firsthalf performance
saw Lewes suffer a
heavy 3-0 defeat at
Leatherhead on the
opening day of the
Ryman Premier season.
Steve Brown was able to name a strong
side, with Steve Sutherland, Henry
Muggeridge and Nathan Crabb all starting
after missing the final friendly of the
summer against Crystal Palace last week.
Leatherhead looked sharp from the first
minute, while Lewes struggled defensively.
The Rooks failed to pick up HughesMason from a long ball forward after five
minutes and were punished to give the
hosts the lead.
Leatherhead deservedly doubled their lead
after 13 minutes though, with Vasieleious
Karaigiannis seeing his 25-yard free-kick
take a deflection off the top of the wall on
its way past the Lewes ‘keeper and into
the roof of the net.
Lewes were dealt a blow just before the
break with goalkeeper Hutchins having
Sussex Cricket Club
Shortly after the last
edition of re was
published, Sussex’s
triple Ashes winning
wicketkeeper-batsman
Matt Prior announced
his retirement from
cricket, this was followed by the news
that Mike Yardy will also be retiring at the
end of the current season.
Prior was forced to call time on his
illustrious cricketing career because of a
recurring achilles heel injury, which had
kept him out of action since last season.
The former Brighton College student
made his first-class debut for Sussex
in 2001 and made his England oneday international debut in 2004 against
Zimbabwe. He became the first English
wicketkeeper to hit a century on his debut
with an unbeaten 126 against the West
Indies at Lord’s in 2007. Prior was a key
member of England’s Ashes triumphs of
2009, 2010/11 and 2013 and was named
one of Wisden’s five Cricketers of the Year
in 2010. He was also named the England
Cricketer of the Year in 2012/13 and has
played over 150 times for his country
across all three formats. He becomes one
of the few wicketkeepers to retire from
the game with a test average over 40.00.
His first-class record for Sussex was also
exemplary, scoring nearly 8,000 runs in
146 matches. In all, he had amassed over
13,000 first-class runs.
Yardy grew up in Hastings and has played
to be substituted after being knocked
unconscious following a collision, as he
clawed a dangerous cross away from
under the crossbar. Academy goal keeper.
Nathan Stroomberg was introduced as his
replacement for his first-team debut.
The second half was one of few chances,
as Lewes looked more solid defensively
without threatening a comeback. The
Rooks’ best chance of a consolation came
in the final few minutes, as Jimmy Muitt
saw a goal-bound effort from close range
deflected over the crossbar by Joe Bruce.
Leatherhead added a third goal in
stoppage time after not threatening for
much of the second half, as Karagiannis
crossed from the left for substitute Mark
Nwokeji to finish from close range.
This was a disappointing start to the
season for Lewes, who never really looked
like getting back into the game after
conceding two early goals and losing
Hutchins to injury before half-time.
Unfortunately the Rooks were unable
to make amends in their next game
against Met Police as they lost 2-1 at The
Dripping P