We Don't Need No Drummer

Lewes FC host Bognor Regis Town FC in the Isthmian Premier League at the Dripping Pan

It's Sussex derby time again as the Rooks host the Rocks at the Pan Sero. Lewes have flatlined in 6th after 3 consecutive draws while Bognor are sitting bottom after a poor run. Dougie is back in the squad and is on the bench. Malaki has left the Rooks but a new striker, Gianluca Botti, makes his home debut tonight. One last playing (of a recording of) the last post and it's time for battle to commence although a little late at 7.50 not 7.45.

First impressions count and the new No.9 made a good one, Gianluca gets his first home goal for the Rooks after just 36 seconds ⚽. Hoping there aren't any Brentford scout in the crowd. If he disappears suddenly, look for him at a London bus stop. The Rooks level on 10 after a bit of a defensive howler by the Rooks No. 1. There is a brief appearance of the Rocks drummer helping them sing a bit but not much to sing about at the moment.  Neither side really has any control of the game although the Rocks are making better use of their possession. No more goals though. Still 1-1 at the break.

There are no changes at the restart. The Rooks start to control game a lot more and are putting some good moves together. The Rocks are solid at the back though and getting are some joy with their route 1 approach. It gets less effective as the Rooks get wise to it. It's still a bit of a stalemate. Harvey Whyte goes off on 63 and his mate, Dougie comes on at 75. The Rooks only change Elechi replacing Enkh on 81. We have to wait until 87 for the important 3rd goal. It's a screamer from outside the box by Rooks No. 4, Matt Warren  ⚽. 2-1 to the hosts. "2-1 on your big day out is sung towards the silenced Rocks. It's very soon replaced by "3-1 on your big day out" as some great work by Gianluca secures his brace ⚽. He is immediately replaced by Antonio. Another minute and the chant changes to "4-1 on your big day out" as Bassett hits the net on 90+5 ⚽. "We want 5" is the new chant. We don't get our wish and it ends 4-1.

A great day at the office for the Rooks and one to forget for the Rocks. They had no real answer when it was pointed out. no so politely. that they were "going down with the Whitehawk". They played well at times but were predictable. Dougie helped a bit with the creativity they were not good enough at the back. The Rooks were ruthless at the end and got their reward for the second half improvement. Up into the playoff places. Always a good day out at The Pan and it deserves a bigger crowd than 590. It's our international break now before we return to the Champions League.

POTM: The award was already going to Matt Warren 🏅before his goal for great running on the right and getting the ball into the box. Always being available out on the wing when an out ball was required from the congested midfield. . If your speedy wingers are going to play narrower, like Marcus Sablier tonight, then you need a speedy fullback. Goal of the night as well.

The ref had a strange night but was very laid back considering the amount of abuse he took. Another ref would have filled up the sin bin but this guy just laughed it off. He let a huge amount go and was largely consistent.

The Scran'o'meter loved the creamy hot chocolate. Needed sweetening but still gets a stocking 9/10. There was the catastrophe of the broken fryer and hence no chips so a shocking 0/10 for the chips that weren't.

Parking does usually get a comment but we would like to thank whoever locked us in the College Car Park. It was great fun.

Love Tranmerekat 🐾

It's Pantastic to be back

Rook The Casbah

Lewes FC away to Bognor Regis Town FC in the Isthmian Premier League at the MKM Arena

The Rocks play host to the Rooks in a Sussex derby at the Nye Camp. East meets West on an autumnal evening on the Sussex coast. Hopefully the rain seems to have been and gone for today.  Fingers crossed it stays dry. We have split loyalties tonight as we love our local team, the Rooks, but Dougie is back at Rocks at four seasons at the Hornets🐝. He came off the bench late on in their 3-2 loss away at Cheshunt. The Rooks won 2-0 at home to Chatham despite having a change of manager and big turnover of players in the summer. A few favourites have gone as we saw at the Hornets. Dougie looks like he is playing left mid field or left wing. Making use of his left foot🦶.

The Rocks are on top from the start and the Rooks look sloppy in possession. Neither can get a good shot on goal as both are defending well. There is an odd incident where the Rock's striker appears to be pushed in the back by a Rooks defender who then goes down like he's been shot in the ear. It's ends up as a Rooks free kick near their corner flag. Bizarre. Hope that's not how it's going to continue with lots of unnecessary rolling around pretending to be dying. Not great to watch. It doesn't re-occur and it turns into a good flowing game although not much of it in the final 3rds. The Rocks have the upper hand with a little more quality their attacking possession. Ben Mundele is replaced by Patrick Muirhead on 21 for an injury off the ball that looked like a hamstring. Was on his feet to leave the pitch so hope he's ok soon. At one point, the Rooks keeper catches the ball safely and as he tries to get to the edge of the box, he is obstructed by a Rock who goes theatrically flying to the floor. There is a minor melee with about 1/3 of each team joining in. The ref breaks it up quickly and it's eventually a Rooks free kick. It was clearly obstruction but not sure if anyone got booked in the chaos. The Rooks have the better of the last 10 minutes of the half getting joy down their right wing with Matt Warren getting deep and putting in some good crosses. Can't remember at the moment who is playing on the left for Bognor and should be stopping these runs but sure the name will come to us 😂. The Rocks defence 🧱 holds firm and it's goalless at the break.

The Rooks last burst seems to have levelled things up a bit after the restart with neither side having much quality in possession. Success for both teams looks most likely to happen on the break. Dougie goes off after 58 to be replaced by Jasper Mather. Don't have to feel guilty about supporting the Rooks now. It's lively but still without much quality except for the occasional stepover or backheel. Of the two, the Rooks keeper is called into action to make the better saves which he does well. The breakthrough comes for the Rooks when a cross is flicked on and tapped home by Eddie Allsop on 85 ⚽ . Cue about 2 minutes of limbs from the Red and Black army behind the goal. The 5 minutes of added time seem to take an age ⏳️ with the Rocks taking (or trying to take) control. Lewes are calm in possession but Bognor get some chances. The whistle goes and it's bedlam behind the goal. All the Rooks players come over to share the victory with the fans. Great game. Home time🚗🏠.

The was a really enjoyable game to watch. The late goal helped but it would still have been good had it finished 0-0. But it didn't🤭. Six points from the first two games for the rebuilt Lewes team under new manager Craig Nelson. Think the fans love him already. There is work to do for Bognor who weren't far off.  There would have been no complaint if they had won it as they should have been ahead at the break. We haven't seen a scrap 🥊on that scale for a while. It was a bit half-hearted but they don't seem to get out of hand anymore. Maybe we just go to the nicest places😁. It was good to see Dougie playing more forward than at Horsham. Hopefully back to goalscoring form soon as he was up to 7 in the season cut short by Covid which was his last at the Rocks before joining the Hornets. Can't remember how many he scored in Yellow and Green but maybe there were one or two that sneaked through without us noticing. Glad we came along tonight.  It was a great game and an enjoyable evening with the bonus out 3 points heading east on the A27.

POTM: Going for 2 today. Dougie for an astonishing bit of footwork defending at the edge of the box. Where has he been hiding those skills 🤷? And for the Rooks it goes to Marcus Sablier. We love a pacy winger. He had a great game and his replacement, Mal Morris did well too.

The ref did well. One or two strange decisions need to give the crowd something to "Boo"📣. Nothing that impacted the result though. It wasn't clear who he was booking and why at times.

The Scran'O'meter had a lovely night out and awarded 8/10 for the Haloumi Burger 🍔with chilli 🌶️jam and 9.5 for the hot chocolate ☕. The Nye Camp still top of the hot chocolate league table even though Doug's Tuck Shop has gone. Might start a petition 📝 to get it back.

See you at Fort Road at the Weekend.

Love Tranmerekat 🐾

Back at the Nye Camp

The lights are on

A late goal for Lewes

The Rocks

MKM Area apparently

The Way You Rook Tonight

Lewes FC host Horsham FC in the Isthmian League Premier Division at the Dripping Pan

The Hornets 🐝 have finally arrived at the Dripping Pan to face the Rooks. We've been waiting a while as it was first scheduled for the end of November but was rained off. The game was re-scheduled for January but the Hornets got a bye though to the FA Cup 2nd round against Sutton so was postponed to allow them to train ahead of that. The bye came about because, having put up a heroic performance to get a 3-3 draw away Barnsley in the FA Cup 1st Round to take it to a home replay, which they lost, Barnsley were excluded for fielding and ineligible player. They eventually lost to Sutton and their visit to the DP was rescheduled for March. March turned out to be monsoon season in Sussex, and most of England, so it was postponed again. It was looking good for this evening until a torrential downpour late afternoon the was as much hail as rain. Fingers crossed it goes ahead. The Rooks are mid-table with nothing to play for except pride but the Hornets sit in the last play-off place and need to point to maintain their promotion push. Dougie is on the bench tonight as seems usual at the moment. There is a fantastic pink sky over the Pan so let's see how it goes.

The first half started with chances for both teams. The Rooks were attacking the East Stand end and as it starts to rain🌧, most of their fans are heading back to the other end to find cover. The play was the attacking and physical match you expect from these two teams. Ogunwamide was running riot down the right wing for the Rooks. Lewes take the lead on 36 when the keeper saves a shot from Sablier and Whelpdale's heads home the rebound ⚽. There are still a few die hard but very soggy Rooks fans behind goal to celebrate. There is lots of slipping sliding on the wet pitch but no more goals before the break.

The Rooks are in charge after the break and have a couple of really good chances. The goal comes from Ogunwamide running down the right wing, cutting in, dodging some defenders and slotting it home on 57⚽. 2-0 and the Rooks in the driving seat. The Hornets make a couple of changes with Dougie coming on as no 14. The changes help but it's time for the big guns and Jack Mazzone comes on. It's not long before he is on the score sheet on 75⚽. It's a tough 15 minutes for the Rooks as the Hornets pile on the pressure. It's not all one way though as the attacking Yellow and Green are exposed on the break but saved by the keeper from going further behind. In the 5 added minutes there is a good chance at each end but it finishes 2-1 to the Rooks.

A great game to watch with some real end to end action. The rain added a bit of excitement and the pink sky was stunning. It not what the Hornets wanted as they are still short of the points to make the play-offs but it's still possible. Hope they make it as they deserve a shot at promotion. It was good to meet up with Dougie as not seen him for a while. The Lardy Army were in their usual good voice with lots of taunting of the Rooks keeper. The rain was very heavy at times and blowing under the roof of the stand so we had to move back so we didn't get our fur wet but at least it stopped in time to go home.

POTM: Goes to our current favourite Rook, Ogunwamide 🏅, who has great acceleration and pace but great feet to skip in and out of defenders. Really fun to watch and a well-deserved goal.

Ref got most right and seemed to upset both sets of coaches and fans equally. Only howler we saw was a throw to Hornet that came off a Rook head that was given to the Rooks.

Scan'o'meter could live here with the great selection on offer. Today is was the parmesan chips at a yummy 8.5. 🍟

Next time we see the Hornets will be a The AMEX for Challenge Cup Final 🏆against Hastings.

See you soon.

Love Tranmerekat 🐾

Cloudy over the Pan

Pink sky to the West

Back at the Pan today

Not seen Dougie for ages

Beveren'ding Story

Lewes FC host KSK Beveren in the FENIX Cup at the Pan Sero

The Rooks are back in European action facing Koninklijke Sportkring Beveren from Flanders who visit the Pan Sero on a surprisingly dry night in East Sussex. It has been raining so much that we are glad that the Pan is drained so well. The pitch looks better that most league 2 pitches at this time of the season. These two sides met in Belgium in December with the Rooks winning 3-1. There are a good number of Beveren fans here and they have brought some fireworks with them. They love a bit of Pyro at the Pan so set off all sorts of firecrackers and smoke bombs at the top of the bank before kick-off 🧨🎆♥. The visitors tonight look very young but we hope they can put up a good show against the athletic Rooks. The yellow and blue kit is a bit bright but the keepers navy and gold looks good.

The Rooks are energetic from the kick off. The ball is in the back of the Beveren net on 4 minutes after Tommy Wood (maybe) bundles home after a scramble in the box ⚽. The Rooks waste a host more chances with most going wide. They are dominant and controlling all over the pitch. Great to watch is No. 7 Ola Ogunwamide who has great pace and good feet skipping past the defenders. Still more chances missed, not by much, they are not being reckless but just not quite on target. Somehow just single goal divides the teams at the break as the players leave pitch and climb the steps.

Back at it and the Reds still dominate and score again on 58 from Ola Ogunwamide ⚽ who has switched from right to left wings at the break. The third comes from Marcus Sablier on 78 ⚽. It's a great shot from outside the box and gets a big deflection before flying past the keeper. Ryan Gondoh slots it home on 84⚽ for the Rooks fourth. The visitors have brought on some subs and they look as young as the rest of the squad except the striker that is built like The Chief, except with hair.  A dominant display by the Rooks as it finishes 4-0. 

The Rooks are off to Italy. They are top of the group despite one game still to play. They still have a visit to Oslo to look forward to once the season re-starts in Norway. The venue for the finals has been announced and it will be on the shores of lake Gada in May. Sounds lovely. Wish we were going✈. It was very one sided tonight which can happen when different leagues meet but it was a good game and the Beveren fans were really good fun. Singing mostly in english, they made a good amount of noise.

POTM: Goes to the Rooks no. 7 Ola Ogunwamide, he was great to watch flying up the wing and dribbling in and out with great feet. Ryan Gondoh seems to be the fan favourite judging from the response to his goal.

Scranometer gave a 3/10 for the hot chocolate. Very disappointing for somewhere that does such good food. Will try the other stall next time.

 Hopefully back here before too long and see you somewhere soon.

Love Tranmerekat 🐾

Love the Pan❤️

Getting the badges in

Pyro at the Pan

Reds verses Yellows

Rise like a FENIX

Lewes FC host FC Oslo in the FENIX Trophey at the Dripping Pan

European football comes to the Pan Sero 🏟 in the shape of the FENIX Trophy. The Rooks have been invited join this annual tournament and face Group D opponents Gamle Oslo Fotballklubb of the Finnish 4th Division. The Rooks are currently 9th in the Isthmian Premier League and haven't lost at home (or drawn) since the beginning of September. We haven't been here for while so don't know any of the squad. The home team are in their usual red tonight and the visitors are in their 3rd kit which can only be described a fluorescent yellow. Bright doesn't do it justice. It's a league game tonight with the team that finishes top going to Italy for the Semi-Finals and Final.

The visitors start brightly and are breaking with pace but the hosts soon settled into thier stride and were knocking the ball about and frustrating their opponents. The Rooks are getting some good crosses in but they can't get on the end of them until one fizzed in from the right, is met at the left post by Kalvin Lumbombo-Kalala on 15⚽. They are fairly comfortable now playing some good football.  The Reds are very athletic side covering a lot of ground and they have some pace too. The visiting keeper is playing well and doe's well to keep the deficit to one goal at the break.

Oslo seem to have found something extra as they are a much tougher opponent now, fighting hard for the ball and getting quite feisty.  They can't get a decent chance to test the Rooks keeper but are defending better. It starts to get a bit too aggressive as the clock winds down. A couple of nasty tackles on Lewes players before Archie is brought down after wriggling free just in front of us. It doesn't look that bad but he doesn't get up and isn't moving. He is stretched off and a sub comes on. It calms down a bit and it's no time before the final whistle goes. The Rooks first European game and a first European win. Brighton aren't the only team mixing it up with continental opposition this season. One step on the road to Italy.

A good game in the first half with the Rooks being quite dominant. The visitors were much better in the second half but didn't get any good chances. They also got a bit too physical as they struggled to get any kind of grip on the game and were lucky to keep 11 on the pitch. A couple of nasty injuries late on was the result. The ref was lenient and could and should have stamped it out earlier. Glad to hear that Archie is OK after being stretchered off with whiplash. It's difficult to judge the levels of teams in other leagues at the same step in the UK but whoever matched these two up did well. The away leg will be after the Norwegian season starts in March. The other team in the group is KSK Beveren from Belgium and we'll keep an eye out for the home game. I was great to visit the Dripping Pan again and hope to bring the Scranometer next time.

POTM: goes to goal scorer no.19 Kalvin who was exactly where the opposite winger should be when a cross comes in and hit the target. Was devastating with his charging up the left wing all night.

Hope to be back here soon.

Love Tranmerekat 🐾

Back at the Pan

Close to the action

Equality FC

The Dripping Pan-demic

Bognor Regis Town FC away to Lewes FC at The Dripping Pan

The Rocks take on the Rooks on a cold night in Lewes.

In a fixture that was postponed from Boxing Day (Brut and new gloves Day), the visitors took an early lead on 3 minutes and the score remained that way until the final whistle 92 minutes later.   A good end to end game with both sides having chances.

Really nice ground and hot drinks at half time, please take note Wycombe Wanderers.

MOTM  Doug Tuck - that pie didn't stand a chance.

See you at Accrington Stanley.

Love Tranmerekat 🐾

Today I am supporting Equality FC for equal pay in football.

The pitch is subterranean 

Arrived at the Drippping Pan