A late comeback from Merstham denied Lewes all three points in a result that moved Lewes off the foot of the table for the first time in several months, but prevents them significantly closing the gap on the sides outside the relegation zone reports Tom Harper.
Darren Freeman made two changes to the side that had drawn 0-0 with Wingate just two days previously, with Dee Okojie and Jonte Smith replacing Ronnie Conlon and Charlie Coppola in the starting line-up.
Smith deserves huge credit for turning out for Lewes less than 48 hours after representing Bermuda, especially after only arriving at Heathrow at lunchtime after his flight back to the UK had been diverted to Manchester this morning due to bad weather.
Smith like several other Bermuda players heading back to the UK departed Bermuda Sunday Morning and headed to the USA only to spend the entire day in the Airport waiting for their flight which would leave the USA around the same time the Bermuda to Gatwick British Airways Flight would have taken off.
The return of Smith saw Lewes make a bright start, and he opened the scoring after just four minutes, as he was on hand to finish from close range after Merstham had been unable to clear a corner from Henry Muggeridge.
Despite creating few clear-cut opportunities, Lewes could have doubled their lead just before the break, as Smith latched onto a long kick forward from Winterton only to see Josh Smith in the Merstham goal save his effort from a tight angle.
Lewes made the best possible start to the second half by doubling their lead just four minutes after the restart. Leon Redwood was the scorer, beating Josh Smith at his near post with an accurate 25-yard free-kick.
The hosts were handed a route back into the game after 74 minutes, as Michael Abnett was caught by Winterton as he broke into the penalty area. Penny took the spot-kick, and waited for Winterton to dive to his left before calmly rolling the ball down the middle of the goal to halve the deficit.
Merstham completed their comeback just five minutes later, as substitute Calum Willock scrambled the ball home from close range after the Rooks had been unable to clear an inswinging free-kick from Hopkinson.
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