Draw leaves Robins with plenty to work on

A draw was probably a fair result as both sides demonstrated that they still have plenty of work to do before the start of the new season.

Carshalton were without several key players, particularly in midfield, but they started brightly, with Franky Sawyer testing Lewes keeper from Karl Beckford’s pass.

They were rewarded with a goal on 10 minutes, when Beckford’s corner from the left was met by Lewis Gonsalves, who flicked his header over Rikki Banks into the top corner.

The Robins' passing game gave them greater possession, but they were unable to turn pressure into chances and, as the half progressed, the visitors came more into the game. Sam Crabb dragged his shot wide when released down the right flank but, with five minutes of the half remaining, the same player put Lewes on terms with a well-placed shot past Mark Reed from a similar move.

Just before the break, Charlie Ide was fouled on the left and Beckford’s free-kick was tipped away under pressure by Banks.

The second half saw the usual flurry of changes, and both sides struggled to build any cohesion. It took an enterprising individual run by David Wheeler and some collective, comatose defending by the Robins for the deadlock to be broken on 60 minutes.

As players came and went, it looked as though this would be enough to settle the game.

Beckford’s free-kick was headed over by Toppin, but the Robins were struggling to open up the Lewes defence.

Their late equaliser was created by Simon Cooper, who attacked along the right flank before crossing, and Richard Jolly was well placed to glance the ball past Banks. There was just time left for Lewes’s Sam Schaff to be allowed a free header with the goal seemingly at his mercy, but fortunately his poor connection drifted just wide.

Carshalton squad; Matt Reed, Simon Cooper, Lewis Gonsalves, David Graves, Liam Harwood, Bashir Alimi, Antonio Gonnella, Adrian Toppin, Charlie Ide, Frankie Sawyer, Karl Beckford, Richard Jolly, Adrian Stone, Richard Stroud.