CAFC vs Lewes FC – Preview
The Robins will travel to the Dripping Pan this Good Friday for an Isthmian Premier Division showdown against Lewes FC!
Carshalton Athletic
Unfortunately for Adeniyi’s side, a play-off spot is now mathematically out of reach following the 3-0 drumming at the hands of Horsham on Saturday. The Robins remain in ninth place, level on 61 points with Chatham Town. Looking ahead, Carshalton will be hoping to return to winning ways this Good Friday at the Dripping Pan against Lewes.
Lewes
Lewes currently sit mid-table in the Isthmian Premier Division, holding 12th place on 55 points, overtaking Folkestone Invicta, who suffered a shock 2-0 defeat to rock-bottom Bowers and Pitsea. The Rooks kicked off the 2024–25 season in remarkable fashion, enjoying their best start to a campaign in over a decade. They won their opening five league fixtures and went unbeaten in their first eight matches overall—a run that earned manager Craig Nelson the August 2024 Manager of the Month award.
However, their early momentum stalled dramatically after a heartbreaking 4-2 penalty shootout defeat to Harefield United in the FA Cup First Qualifying Round Replay in early September. That loss marked the beginning of a prolonged dip in form.
A goalless draw with Carshalton Athletic was followed by a 1-1 stalemate against Hastings United. While Lewes briefly regained their footing with a 2-0 win over Bowers & Pitsea, they were promptly brought back down to earth with a humbling 5-0 defeat at Potters Bar. October brought some relief in cup competitions, as Lewes progressed in both the Sussex Cup and FA Trophy with victories over Three Bridges and Bracknell Town. Yet their league struggles continued. A 2-2 draw with Billericay Town and a 2-0 defeat to Horsham saw them slide further down the standings after once sitting atop the division.
Despite their faltering league form, Lewes secured a notable milestone by edging Ashford United 8-7 on penalties to reach the Second Round Proper of the FA Trophy—an impressive achievement for the club. In the league, though, the rot continued into November. Although they lost just twice in six matches, uninspiring draws with Chatham Town and Hendon, coupled with wins only against relegation-threatened Canvey Island and Bognor Regis, highlighted the team’s ongoing inconsistency.
Cup exits further compounded their frustrations. A 2-0 loss to AFC Totton ended their FA Trophy run, and a 2-1 defeat to Eastbourne Borough in the Sussex Cup Third Round dashed hopes of local silverware.
The festive period brought little cheer for Rooks supporters. Lewes went winless over Christmas, earning three draws—against Dulwich Hamlet (2-2), Wingate & Finchley (2-2), and Folkestone Invicta (0-0)—amid losses to in-form, promotion-chasing sides Chichester City and Hashtag United.
Lewes began the new year on the back foot, with their New Year’s Day clash against Whitehawk abandoned and a five-match winless run in the Isthmian Premier Division quickly following—not the ideal way to ring in 2025. The tough stretch included another 2-0 defeat to Horsham and a narrow 2-1 loss to a resurgent Whitehawk side, who leapfrogged their Sussex rivals in the table.
However, the Rooks ended January on a more encouraging note, earning a hard-fought 1-1 draw against promotion-chasing Dover Athletic. Momentum briefly swung their way with a tight 1-0 win over Hastings United, ending their local rivals’ unbeaten streak. Yet consistency continued to elude Lewes. A goalless draw with Cray Valley PM was followed by back-to-back defeats—3-2 to Potters Bar Town and 4-2 to Billericay Town.
February offered flashes of promise. The month began and ended with 1-0 wins, the latter over Hendon, but the positive bookends were undermined by disappointing results sandwiched in between.
That said, March marked a genuine upturn in form for Lewes. The Rooks kicked off the month with back-to-back 3-1 victories over Dulwich Hamlet and Dartford, showing glimpses of the attacking flair that defined their early-season surge. While a heavy 4-0 defeat to Canvey Island briefly halted their momentum, they responded emphatically, stunning high-flying Cray Valley PM with a 4-1 win—arguably one of their standout performances of the campaign.
However, consistency again proved elusive. Lewes struggled to build on that result in their following two matches, falling to a 3-0 defeat against play-off contenders Chichester City before settling for a goalless draw with Wingate & Finchley. Still, considering Wingate’s strong recent form, the point was a respectable one in the context of the table.
Likely line-ups
Carshalton Athletic
Watkins, Hamilton-Downes, Read, Pepe, Shonibare, Saraiva, Saunders-Henry, Bradford, Ifeanyi, Smith, Kalala
Lewes
Bull, Ojemen, Warren, Sablier, Bassett ©, Antonio, Allen, Meeres, Ekpiteta, Spinks, Unwin
Team news
Carshalton Athletic
Michael Dada has served his one-match suspension, sitting out Saturday’s clash with Horsham, and will now be available for selection on Good Friday at the Dripping Pan. His return adds to the growing competition for places in the Reds’ squad—particularly in midfield. One of Tommy Bradford or Mason Saunders-Henry may have to make way to accommodate Dada’s comeback.
At centre-back, the battle for a starting spot alongside Luke Read continues, with both Dylan Pepe and Kyron Horsley-McKay in contention. Meanwhile, Fikayo Atewologun and Kwaku Frimpong remain sidelined with long-term injuries. The pair did take to the grass for the pre-match warm-up against the Hornets.
Lewes
In recent weeks, Lewes have made several adjustments to their starting XI. Calvin Ekpiteta and Alfie Allen have established themselves as regular starters, with Ollie Starkey and Paris Muirhead dropping out of the lineup. Meanwhile, there was a welcome boost for the Rooks as Lewis Finney made his return to the squad after a lengthy spell on the sidelines through injury.
Pre-Match Analysis
Lewes currently sit eighth in the Isthmian Premier Division form table over the last six matches, having picked up a solid 10 points from three wins, a draw, and two defeats. Prior to the 3-0 loss against Chichester, the Rooks had won four of their previous five games, including impressive victories over Dartford and Cray Valley—highlighting a notable resurgence in form. Barring the heavy defeats to Canvey Island (4-0) and Chichester, it’s been a positive spell for the side. Last time out, the club beat Cheshunt 2-1.
Statistically, Lewes rank 14th in the league for goals scored (53), but are inside the top ten for goals conceded (56), placing tenth—an indication of relative defensive solidity despite some tough results. At home, the Rooks have been competitive. With eight wins, seven draws, and just four losses at the Dripping Pan, they sit 12th in the home form table on 31 points.
Key Player
Danny Bassett, a very familiar name to Robins faithful, is the Rooks key player. Topping the club’s goalscoring charts, having netted 20 times in the 2024-25 season, the Robins will be weary of the striker, who scored a penalty at the weekend. Bassett began his career at Staines Town, before joining Egham, Godalming and Tooting & Mitcham where he scored a whopping 64 goals in three seasons. His scintillating form earned him a move to Hampton & Richmond in the National South for the 2020-21 season, briefly joining Braintree Town that same season. Of course, the forward then transferred to the Reds in the 2021-22 season where he finished top scorer with 20 goals. He was again top scorer for Cray Wanderers in the 2022-23 season before returning to the Robins in 2023-24, finishing with 11 goals.
The Gaffer
Craig Nelson has enjoyed a rapid rise in management, having been at Southern Counties club Glebe a year ago. He led them to the top of the league before standing down four games before the end of the season. A move to the Isthmian Premier followed last summer. What followed was the Rooks’ best start to a campaign for over a decade as the team won all five of its opening league matches and went eight games undefeated overall. That impressive start saw Craig pick up the Manager of the Month award for August 2024. There was progression in the FA Trophy to the 2nd Round proper, however, injuries to key players saw the Rooks’ form dip toward the end of 2024. The team responded strongly and picked up notable victories in 2025 over Dulwich, Dover and Cray Valley. He now moves to Step 2 with Tonbridge Angels, with the National League South side confirming the news last Thursday. Nelson feels it’s important to complete the season at Lewes, they gave him the chance at Step 3 and he’s enjoyed his time there.
Match Details
Date: Friday, April 18, 2025
Venue: The Dripping Pan
Kick-off: 03:00 PM
Admission: £13 (Adult), £9 (Concession), Free (Under 16)
Tickets: Buy Tickets Here
