Rooks robbed by rash of red cards

Conference SouthEastbourne Borough 3 Lewes 1That former Rook Anthony Storey should score against his old club in this dramatic Boxing Day derby was almost inevitable. But that Lewes should spend the last 40 minutes with nine players on the park and much of the second half with both their manager and assistant manager banished from the dugout was hardly part of the script at Priory Lane.

The Rooks have every reason to feel aggrieved after a game that hinged on the dismissal of Djoumin Sangare for a second bookable offence on the stroke of half-time. But it was only when the Borough players intervened that the Frenchman finally got his marching orders. Referee Andy Legg was obviously having trouble with his notebook and was happy to issue two yellows but no red.

The decision took several minutes and required consultation with both linesmen. Mr Legg should have remembered that the pantomime season was taking place down the road at the Devonshire Park Theatre. The official lost all credibility with both sets of fans and crucially with the Rooks's bench.

The game had started with the visitors looking well organised and comfortably the better side. On 17 minutes a weak header from a Borough defender fell to Jean-Michel Sigere, whose neat first touch allowed Mo Harkin to blast home from close range.

Sigere looked sharp throughout, although he should have done better when getting only a glancing contact on a Harkin cross that flew well wide. The Rooks might also have taken the lead when Dean Brennan thundered the ball against goalkeeper Lee Hook's right post in the first ten minutes.

Lewes were already justifiably aggrieved when Mr Legg made a harsh decision moments before half-time, awarding Borough a penalty after Joe Keehan went down in the penalty area under a Jay Lovett challenge that carried little venom. Former Rook Storey levelled matters at 1-1 with a perfect strike.

The drama continued even during the interval when Lewes assistant manager Stuart Cash was sent into the stand for remonstrating with officials.