Downs on the way up

On a last minute whim I headed off to the Blue Square Conference South table top clash of Lewes v Hampton and Richmond - first and third respectively. Both teams have, in the past couple of years, made good progress up the non-league ladder and both are now on the cusp of the Conference.

Lewes has a small, neat ground and even with grey January skies you can see beauty of the South Downs all around. The chalky soil obviously helps the drainage as the pitch was lovely and green, even after all the recent rain - a real credit to the club and a pitch many clubs in higher leagues would be proud of.

The game was a stop/start affair. A fussy referee meant that it often didn't flow and, even though the match was far from dirty, his refereeing led to several bookings and a sending off. I suspect he was being assessed. Hampton scored twice - after 6 minutes in each half - and Lewes rarely threatened to scored. Their solitary goal was in the 89th minute and was from a soft and fortunate penalty. Overall an interesting game rather than a crowd pleaser - Hampton looked professional and Lewes did not look the run away league leaders their currently are.