Kouassi finds his shooting boots- and fires the Gulls to victory

By Ian Townsend

We like Rooks. And we like Gulls. But which is better? There was only one way to find out! Our report from a crucial clash at the Dripping Pan

Our big match this evening came from the Dripping Pan, which, having hosted Manchester United, an FA Cup Quarter Final, a record crowd and the BBC on Sunday is getting quite used to big matches, thank you very much.

Hosts Lewes have been in fine form, and a run of one defeat in ten matches and wins from their last three had seen them close to within three points of the top five. Visitors Canvey Island, like their Sussex opponents, had also only one defeat from ten and started the night five points clear of the Rooks in fourth place.

The number of travelling fans on a cold Tuesday night perhaps exemplified better than our words just how important this match was. Canvey to Lewes is eighty six miles and a trip over the Dartford crossing- two hours or more during rush hour- and the kind of trip that makes you shudder and pray to the traffic gods before you set off. As for the home fans, nobody expected to match the two thousand, eight hundred and one who turned out for the arrival of the Red Devils at the weekend, but the crowd of five hundred and seventy six demonstrated quite how much hope remains in these parts at the moment.

The Rooks got us underway, right on time, kicking towards the uncovered terrace. At the other end we got the first singsong of the night, from the visiting fans, accompanied by a drum. Within two minutes they fell silent, holding their breath as Ryan Gondoh latched onto a lay off from Joe Taylor, charged through the middle, and shot…into the side netting. The noise quickly resumed, but the Rooks were dominating possession with a collection of neat passing triangles pushing them towards the visitors box. A free kick from Jayden Davis flashed across the area with nobody from either side seemingly alive to the opportunity presented. The hosts kept up their early pressure, and Bobby Mason was forced into the first save of the match on eight minutes, down to his left to claim a shot from Razz Coleman De-Graft. The home fans on the open terrace began to sing Tequila, but with the bar at the other end of the ground they’d have to wait- and there was no reason to believe, at this stage, that they’d need to resort to hard liquor.

On fourteen minutes, another chance. A cross from the left- a grasscutter- evaded everyone in the box and found Coleman De-Graft coming in at the far post, his effort diverted by a last-ditch block. A moment later and the same player curled an effort wide of Mason’s right hand post. A quick Canvey flurry was repulsed, and a good passing move saw Ayo Olukuga charging through, only to be upended by Sam Mvemba, who earned the games first yellow card. A free kick, diverted wide. A corner, not properly dealt with. Another. We reached the twenty minute mark and the Rooks were entirely on top, and yet Mason hadn’t really been tested. At the other end, Lewis Carey was finally called into action, but the shot from Evans Kouassi lacked power and conviction and caused no trouble.

As we approached the half hour the visitors began to gain a foothold in the game. They’d spent most of the first half thus far containing their hosts and trying to hit them on the break, with the occasional long throw into the box causing concern, but they finally had a sustained spell of possession and Kouassi should have done better, latching onto a loose ball in the box and snatching at it, firing well wide. The drumming from behind Carey became more urgent, and another chance presented itself to Kouassi, who, under pressure, placed his volley as close to the corner flag as to the goal.

As we reached the end of the first half Coleman De-Graft caused some difficulties for the Gulls with a mazy run around the edge of the box, and Tyrique Hyde shot meekly at Mason, but the break arrived with the game in desperate need of a goal. There had been plenty of quality in the middle of the pitch, but a distinct lack of it in the box. Rooks striker Joe Taylor had delivered some superb touches around the half way line, but been provided with no service whatsoever once he got within fifteen yards of goal.

The visitors began the second half with a corner, and a few minutes later, earned another- despite the amazement of Ryan Gondoh, who was sure he’d been fouled moments earlier. Neither caused any real trouble to the home rearguard. Both sets of fans serenaded each other half heartedly from opposite ends of the ground, and, well, there was little else to say. Two of the most exciting attacking sides in the league were producing nothing that was particularly exciting, sadly. The game needed a spark, some inspiration- above all, it needed a goal.

The visitors came closest to providing it on fifty six minutes, forcing Carey into a save- but as with the preceding fifty five minutes the approach play was better than the execution. At the other end, Coleman De-Graft, the Rooks biggest attacking threat so far, burst through and fired…well over.

Lewes boss Tony Russell had seen enough and made a change. Off went Jayden Davis, on came Bradley Pritchard. He had half an hour to make a mark. The next chance went to Kouassi for the visitors, some good approach play feeding him on the edge of the box, and his shot, as was usual for this evening, went wide. A few minutes later, Bradley Sach, returning the ball to the Rooks goalkeeper after a stoppage, rolled it- he thought- goalwards. It went wide. That kind of summed up the night so far. We didn’t need a referee, we needed an umpire.

We moved into the last twenty minutes. The Gulls had certainly had the lions share of second half possession whilst doing nothing with it. The Rooks had become almost languid in their approach, the efforts of Coleman De-Graft and Taylor apart, bringing groans from the main stand. “Come on Lewes,” shouted one fan in exasperation as the ball was passed around at the back. “Do you want to win this game?” A moment later and their task was greater still. A Lewes attack, a break, and Kouassi, inside his own half, with the ball at his feet. For the first time, there was space ahead of him. He ran. He ran some more. He ran like the wind. And this time, the finish was perfect. We finally had the goal the contest was crying out for, and on the balance of play in the second half, it had gone the right way.

The Rooks had seventeen minutes to respond. Surely they had to throw a little caution to the wind? We waited for the pressure, but it just didn’t come. Into the last eight minutes, and finally a foray, and a shot, but again, Hyde’s effort didn’t cause Mason to sweat as it was too close to him and with far too little power. And then, defensive dalliance saw Tom Champion robbed. A moment later and the ball was with Kouassi, and again, he did the necessary. Two-nil, and away fans exultant. Kouassi came off, his job done.

The game petered out. The excellent Coleman De-Graft continued to work hard for the Rooks, but he was far from ably supported. In the fourth minute of added time Taylor got his first real chance of the game, slipped under pressure, and the ball cleared the bar. It was the Rooks entire night in a split second.

The two sides will meet again on the final day of the season- and who knows, perhaps they may have a third meeting a few days later? But for that to happen, the Rooks will need to play a lot better than this during their remaining six matches.

Where next?

Non League Day 22-23: Cray Wanderers Saturday is Non League Day. Here’s what’s happening as Cray Wanderers host Horsham
Can the Seasiders break back into the top five? In-form Gorleston and promotion-chasing Felixstowe and Walton United meet tonight, in a match that is important at both ends of the Pitching In Isthmian North table

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