It ended all square and the need for an FA Cup replay on Tuesday night as two Charlie Walker goals in added time levelled a tie for Lewes against Cray Wanderers who had led through goals from Ade Yusuff and Soul Kader.

The replay takes on 8th September, 7.45 pm ko at Flamingo Park.

On a gloriously sunny afternoon Cray on a stunning playing surface the prospect was there for one of the ties of the day with both teams coming into the game in good form. Cray had won the last two games including a fine 4-1 win against Welling United on Bank Holiday Monday.

There was one change to the starting lineup for Tim O’Shea’s side with new signing, Tobi Tinibu arriving from Wingate & Finchley coming in for the injured Lateef Adaja. On the bench was another new signing, Mikey Berry joining from Brentwood Town and part of last season’s Folkestone Invicta’s Isthmian Premier League title winning side. Also two players called up from the U23s, Kane Atkins and Abdul Cole.

Lewes had won the last four games conceding just one goal in the process and there were three chances for the Rooks with Bobby Unwin, Parish Muirhead and Tyler Cox coming in for Jack Enkh, Andrew Briggs and Noel Fisher.    

The game began with Cray coming close in the fifth minute when Frankie Raymond’s right wing corner found Sammie McLeod whose effort was blocked and cleared almost off the line by Josh Spinks.

Cray took the lead in the 18th minute when down the left Alex Hernandez’ free kick was met by a fine header from Ade Yusuff for his fourth of the season.

The Wands were the better side during the first half and Hernandez hit a well struck volley over from Tobi Tinibu’s cross and from a centrally placed free kick Hernandez saw a couple of blocked efforts by the wall and then fired over.

For Lewes ex-Wand Danny Bassett cut inside from the right and shot over while Cray came close when Soul Kader’s looping cross-shot was deflected off Josh Spinks and over.

Before the break Tyrese Owen headed off target for Lewes but Cray had played well first half and held a slight advantage at the break.

Cray began the second half on the front foot. The ever dangerous Ola Ogunwamide following a clearance from Louis Rogers hooked an effort over from 25 yards. Then Hernandez down the left saw his near post shot pushed out well by Rogers.

Then Ogunwamide’s cross found the impressive Tinibu whose header was blocked and his attempted acrobatic volley was cleared. Then Ogunwamide was unlucky to see his effort down the left go across goal and wide.

Lewes began to stir and Calum Newson headed off target. Then from a Tom Bender throw Tyler Cox hooked an effort over.  Then Andrew Briggs saw a shot held by Henry Molyneux.

In the 78th minute Cray after soaking up pressure made it 2-0 as Kader received the ball out of the left and cleverly lofted the ball over Rogers for his first goal of his loan spell.

There were 9 minutes added on following a couple of lengthy stoppages for injuries including Sammie McLeod.

In the first minute of added time The Rooks pulled a goal back when substitute Charlie Walker went through after a ball played by Briggs and after hesitation at the back clipped a shot over Molyneux into the net.

This left a spell of having to hang on but to no avail as two minutes later it was 2-2 when another ex-Wand, Ben Mundele’s ball into the area was glanced goalwards by Walker and was hooked away off the line by Frankie Morgan but was deemed to have crossed the line.

Both teams looked to chase a win but perhaps Lewes considering the circumstances would have been happier with the replay. It seems strange that the teams drew 2-2 in the league exactly a year ago in the league except that time Lewes were 2-0 up.

A note that season tickets are not valid for the replay and tickets are available at www.cray-wanderers.com/tickets, £15 adults, £10 concessions, £5 u17/18s or on the gate.      

Lewes:            Louis Rogers, Josh Spinks (Capt.), Tyrese Owen, Danny Bassett (Calum Newson, 62), Alfie Allen (Charlie Walker, 86), Bobby Unwin (Noel Fisher, 62), Tyler Cox, Ryan Gondoh, Ben Mundele, Parish Muirhead (Andrew Briggs, 57), Tom Bender: Subs: Gio Clarke, Olly Hamstead, Tyler Christian-Law

Scorer:            Walker 90+1, 90+3

Booked:           Spinks 15

Cray Wanderers:        Henry Molyneux, Crossley Lema, Rob Strachan, Frankie Morgan, Tobi Tinibu, Frankie Raymond (Capt.), Sammie McLeod (Payne 87), Ola Ogunwamide, Ade Yusuff, Alex Hernandez, Soul Kader: Subs: Oscar Johnson, Jonathan Haftom, Abdul Cole, Kane Atkins, Mitch Chapman, Mikey Berry

Scorers:          Yusuff 18, Kader 78

Booked:          Yusuff 36

Referee:          Edward Smith

Assistants:     Pete Andrews, Thomas Murray

Att: 473

Images courtesy of Natalie Stribbling