Lewes hockey joy No.2

The game started at a very high tempo with both sides at full strength. Lewes nearly opened the scoring inside five minutes when Pete Thomas was unfortunate to hit the post with his shot. Chichester themselves could have scored just minutes later.

Both sides were playing the ball around the pitch at great speed and skill, but both defences were looking strong.

With 15 minutes gone Lewes were awarded a penalty corner and Chris Marchant flicked the ball high into the top corner of the goal to give his side the lead.

Both teams continued to play open attacking hockey and at times Lewes were thankful for missed opportunities to strike at goal by the skilfull Chi forwards.

They were made to pay for the missed opportunities when a fine passing move between Ole Callf, Ash Kempton and Thomas found Marchant in the D. He was fouled just as he was about to score resulting in a penalty stroke which Callf calmly put away to make it 2-0 at half-time.

Chichester were the far more dominant side in the opening stages after the break and Lewes found it very difficult to get out their half.

Chi continued to lay siege on the Lewes goal but came across a keeper in Josh Pewter who was playing his finest game of the season.

The ice cool John Williams and Colin Toovey, meanwhile, continued to stay strong and, after 25 minutes of immense pressure from Chi, it was Lewes's turn to put the pressure on.

Jon Petch and Kempton came close to scoring, and attacks being set up from aerials by Harry Heitman were now pinning Chi in their own half.

With just seven minutes to go Lewes were awarded a penalty corner and Marchant smashed the ball into the corner of the goal. Then, just a minute later, Petch scored from a reverse strike.

At the full time whistle, the Lewes players were able to celebrate a fabulous victory and an astonishing achievement in winning the double. None more so for the two young players of the match: Pewter, whose performance was rewarded with a Sussex U21 call-up, and Heitman, who this time last year was having a lung removed, but came back to complete a remarkable season of hockey.