Two second half strikes from United's Elliot Buchanan cancelled out a first half opener from former Hayes & Yeading striker Robert Gradwell that had given the hosts the lead on 24 minutes.

United started the game at the Dripping Pan well against a young looking Lewes side who had done well to avoid relegation the previous season and could have taken the lead after just 13 seconds when Bradley Pritchard flicked on a throughball to Peter Holmes, his first time volley being too high to trouble Chris Winterton in the Rooks goal.

United's slick passing saw the ball remain in the Rooks half for long periods despite being against a strong wind blowing from corner to corner across the pitch. Adam Green tried his luck from 25 yards but Winterton was equal to it before United were denied by a series of defensive blocks. Ahmed Deen's cross was headed out weakly by Ross Sutton to Holmes, his drive from the edge of the area being deflected over by a timely Jamie Crellin interception, the resultant corner found it's way to Green, this time it was Andy Pearson providing the block and again the ball went over the top.

Pritchard surged forwards from the middle of the park only to see his 25 yard effort deflect wide of the upright before on 16 minutes the hosts created a chance of their own when a long clearance was controlled by Simon Wormull but his first time effort was well off target.

Eight minutes later the hosts took the lead when Robert Gradwell's pass was blocked into the air and span back to him leaving just keeper Lee Harrison to beat, Harrison met the Rooks striker outside the area but his attempted hack clear rebounded straight into Gradwell's path and with a gaping goal all he needed to do was roll the ball home to give his side the lead.

Three minutes later it was almost a case of déjà vu, Harrison coming out to tackle Gradwell's strike partner Tom Murphy, this time the ball rebounded to Murphy but his weak shot was saved by the diving United keeper.

The goal seemed to give the Rooks more impetusas they finished the half the stronger. Ross Sutton was narrowly wide with an angled free-kick before Gradwell received a throw and turned his marker before firing across Harrison's goal and just wide of the far post. The final kick of the half saw Wormull try his luck with a free-kick but his effort was far too high to trouble Harrison.

With the wind now in their favour, United were soon back on level terms after the break. Green and Deen combined in the middle of the field before playing a perfect ball into Elliott Buchanan's path, the former Slough Town striker slipping the ball past the on-coming Winterton and with a touch from the keeper it seemed to take an eternity for the ball to roll in at the far post.

The Rooks came back at United and a fine interchange between Gradwell, Murphy and Jordan Laing saw the latter hit a drive from 20 yards that needed Harrison's fingertips to put the ball over the bar. The resultant near post corner caused problems as the kick hit the angle of post and bar before being cleared off the line at the opposite post by Jack Pattison.

Just before the hour mark Buchanan struck again, good build up play between Holmes and Pritchard saw the former Tamworth man slide the ball through the defence to Buchanan who hit a first time shot across Winterton into the far corner of the Rooks net for his second of the game.

United were now in the ascendancy, Green saw an angled drive pushed out by Winterton and Holmes drew the best from the Rooks keeper when his curling shot from 20 yards required an acrobatic tip over to deny the United skipper a goal. Winterton was again needed from the corner as the ball fell to Jamie Hand on the edge of the area, his drive being palmed out by the Rooks stopper and Buchanan fired the loose ball over from eight yards.

Holmes was then agonisingly wide from 25 yards before play switched to the other end and a neat build up involving Seb Saunders, Murphy and Leach on the right saw the ball delivered to the far post where it was met by Tim Rivers, his header forcing Harrison to push his effort around the post.

Report by Kevin Watts.