Latest Lewes Result: Lewes 2 (Booth 62, 65) Newport County 0

Last Saturday’s win against Newport County at the Pan came at the end of a difficult week. But it was a perfect response from my players after a run of mediocre performances, and a great result against one of the teams that’s bound to finish there or thereabouts at the end of the season. We’ve been playing 3-5-2 recently because we’ve been forced to through injury, but I signed David Perpetuini, an experienced left back, on a non-contract basis, so I was able to revert to 4-4-2, our preferred formation. We played well in the first half, creating a number of chances. Then at the start of the second, they had the first twenty minutes, and forced a succession of corners. Siggy responded with a header which was saved brilliantly by their keeper, but he looked shattered, so I brought Paul Booth on, on the hour.

This was an important moment for Boothy, who I put on the transfer list in the week. He’d hit a dry patch and I was worried about his commitment. What a response he gave. Within five minutes of coming on, he scored our opening goal. A cross came in, he headed it goalwards, and reacted brilliantly to a great save to force the ball over the line. Then, five minutes later, he beat the offside trap, slipped through, rounded the keeper, saw a defender sliding in to try and tackle him, sidestepped him, and put the ball in. It was a brilliant goal. He gave himself enough time to go off and get a cup of tea before scoring. He didn’t celebrate either goal, because obviously he’s not been happy about the situation himself, and I haven’t taken him off the transfer list just yet. But obviously it was great for everyone concerned for him to get his name back onto the score-sheet. I’ve always said when he gets one they’ll start flowing. (Continued overleaf...)