Post by spur on Jan 27, 2024 17:51:26 GMT
It was quite like old times this afternoon. Outside the ground the two Chrises were selling their doom-ridden fanzine as in days of yore ('Woe to the spendthrift board of Lewes FC!'), while inside, the familiar visitors' drummer queen kept up her incessant chants ('Come on, you Gate, come on!') that must leave her croaking by the end of 90 minutes.
On the pitch the Rooks had one of their better days. Kalvin set us on our way after eight minutes with a typical Kalvin finish (cutting in from the left and firing a shot across the keeper) and Tommy soon converted a penalty he had won himself. We later gave away a bit of a silly goal (caught in possession; an unsuccessful block), but birthday boy Chris Whelpdale swept the ball home from close range after one of several sweeping moves to restore our two-goal lead at the interval.
The second half was plain sailing, although after Kalvin had secured the MoM award with an outrageously calm bent delivery for 4-1, we gave their centre forward too much space for a wonderful drive from the edge of the box, arousing the slightest fear that Margate might make a late fight of it. But no: they had spirit but were comfortably outplayed on the day.
With the teams in third, fourth and fifth positions losing today, winning our games in hand would see us in the playoff positions - and Tuesday's match against Carshalton should give us an indication of how likely that is.
The crowd was a very healthy 933 - or perhaps 934 if the baby being bottle-fed in front of us hadn't been counted. Our spectators are becoming ever more diversified: dogs, babies - what next?
On the pitch the Rooks had one of their better days. Kalvin set us on our way after eight minutes with a typical Kalvin finish (cutting in from the left and firing a shot across the keeper) and Tommy soon converted a penalty he had won himself. We later gave away a bit of a silly goal (caught in possession; an unsuccessful block), but birthday boy Chris Whelpdale swept the ball home from close range after one of several sweeping moves to restore our two-goal lead at the interval.
The second half was plain sailing, although after Kalvin had secured the MoM award with an outrageously calm bent delivery for 4-1, we gave their centre forward too much space for a wonderful drive from the edge of the box, arousing the slightest fear that Margate might make a late fight of it. But no: they had spirit but were comfortably outplayed on the day.
With the teams in third, fourth and fifth positions losing today, winning our games in hand would see us in the playoff positions - and Tuesday's match against Carshalton should give us an indication of how likely that is.
The crowd was a very healthy 933 - or perhaps 934 if the baby being bottle-fed in front of us hadn't been counted. Our spectators are becoming ever more diversified: dogs, babies - what next?
