A terrific point gained or two lost at the end of a titanic battle in Sussex with the BOSTIK South pace setters?  That’s the bottom line of the Mead’s Saturday afternoon by the sea…

A cold bleak damp Saturday didn’t help the mood as the Mead were undone by the Leaders super sub Jonte Smith who scored with almost his first touch and then deep into stoppage time to grab the leaders a point that on the balance of play they probably deserved.  But that should take nothing away from a fantastic Mead performance and hugely deserved point which extends the recent League run to just one defeat in eight games.

Yet after taking a fully deserved two goal lead through Richard Pacquette and Danny Parish, to concede an equaliser so late in the contest was tough to take.  But the point that the Mead did return home with means that it’s now just four points away from the Play Off places still with games in hand…

The two sides of course have met already this season, with Tommy leading the boys to a 3-0 win in the FA Cup in August.  Since then though Lewes have been almost unbeatable – winning 12 and drawing three of their 16 games since – which highlighted just how good a start the Mead made on the day as the visitors duly surprised the home side when Pacquette drilled home on ten minutes and took the game to the leaders to such an extent that it took Lewes 27 minutes to have a shot that threatened Lewis Carey in the visitors goal.

Pacquette was then denied a second after a great run from Raph Duyile which saw Duyile’s shot cannon off the keeper and the Mead’s number ten saw the rebound scrambled off the line.  It delayed the inevitable though just a couple of minutes as Bode Anidugbe powered through, aided by a terrific advantage from the match official – one of his “better” moments on the day – and via a great ball from Tom O’Connor, the ball fell to Parish who doubled the lead with a terrific drive into the corner.

The Mead almost expected a comeback from the home side and to be fair that’s exactly what they got but it was inspired by substitute Smith who pulled one back almost immediately after coming on.  Medlock was then denied by a fabulous block from Carey before the Mead keeper reacted smartly to tip over Smith’s diving header and then shortly after Coppola fired wise with the goal at his mercy.

The Mead then came agonisingly close to sealing the game when substitute Paul Vines brilliantly worked half a yard for himself only to be denied by a desperate last gasp challenge before Jake McIntyre pulled off arguably the tackle of the day just as Smith looked as though he’d worked room for himself as the 90 minutes expired.  Sadly, though for the Mead, Smith was to have the last laugh as from the resulting corner, he beat Lewis with a low shot into the net to spark wild scenes amongst the home fans.

For the Mead, it was tough to take yes; but to get that close to beating the League leaders at kick off for a second time this season – remember the Mead dumped Lewes out of the FA Cup in August – really illustrates the strides that this group of players (today dressed in blue and white stripes) have taken as they move to within four points of the top six still with a game in hand.

THE MEAD – Carey, Duyile (Green), McIntyre, Avery, Smith, Denny, Anidugbe, O’Connor, Parish, Pacquette (Vines), Mendy

Subs – Adeniran & Ovenden Bottom of Form