Rooks' playoffs dream dashed

Conference chief executive John Moules said: 'There's absolutely no chance of extending the April 1 deadline on ground improvements. The end date is set in stone and has been for three years.'

The Rooks had hoped for an extension of that date if they could show the Conference officials their works were under way at their Dripping Pan ground and would be completed by the start of next season.

Lewes managing director Martin Elliott said: 'If that's the case we can't change things but we would like to see all the rules abided with.

'For us of prime importance now is to get our B grading in the autumn and then we won't have this problem any more.

'Ground works for clubs in the pyramid system have been a major headache for many. This time next year some will be battling just to stay at the same level they are and the problems promise to be ten times worse.'

Last season Lewes finished fourth in the Conference South with 65 points and this campaign they have already topped that figure with 66 and have six games remaining.

Manager Steve King said: 'It's all coming together now. The three boys from Crawley have made a great difference. It's a stroke of luck they became available and I was in the right place at the right time.

'I thought we were totally dominant in our win at Cambridge City on Saturday. We had five chances and took two and simply stopped them playing in midfield.

'Simon Wormull was magnificent and Jamie Cade with his workrate is becoming the perfect foil for Siggy. Robbie Kember was brilliant in midfield. He gets his tackles in and there's no nonsense with him.

Cambridge City manager Gary Roberts was full of praise for Lewes after their win. On the excellent Cambridge City website he said: 'Compared to Weymouth, Lewes had more creativity about them, certainly from the centre of the park, I thought Karl Beckford was excellent and Simon Wormull controlled things when he had possession.'