Paul Booth followed-up a terrific treble against Hitchin with a devastating double against Lewes as the Lilywhites’ striker took his FA Cup tally to six for this season’s competition, securing an historic second successive appearance in the First Round Proper for the Milton Road club in the process.

The hosts were boosted by Dale Binns’ return to the starting line-up after a six week absence, Robbie Simpson also stepped up from the bench with Carl Williams and Michael Gash respectively making way from the eleven which kicked-off the 2-0 defeat at Hayes in midweek.

Josh Simpson shows some midfield tenacity

The Rooks have a very similar league record to City and leapfrogged their opponents as a result of a 1-1 draw against Bognor on Wednesday courtesy of a Kirk Watts leveller. Their place in the 4th Qualifying Round of the Cup was secured following a 1-0 home win over Dulwich Hamlet thanks to Karl Beckford’s spot kick.

The pre-match feeling was that this contest was too close to call and City realised the importance of seizing the initiative. Good early pressure saw Robbie Simpson collect Paul Booth’s neat lay-off before his surging run was halted in untidy fashion by Stephen Robinson, a challenge which earned the former Grays central defender a caution.

Having been caught out once by the pace of the City strikers the Rooks’ back-line failed to heed the warning as moments later Booth played Simpson in again. Running directly at goal and with only Paul Wilkerson to beat the teenage striker was hauled to the ground by last man Leon Legge. Referee Cook awarded the hosts a free kick on the edge of the box but it would be interesting to hear the reason behind his decision to produce a yellow rather than a red card.

Once the furore had died down Simpson rolled the ball to his right and Booth sent an unstoppable pile-driver of a shot screaming past Wilkerson and into the bottom left hand corner of the net, justice, partially at least, had been done.

The Rooks’ were reeling at this stage but City failed to press home their advantage and as the half wore on the game became much more even as a contest. Djoumin Sangare produced the visitors’ first effort on goal, testing Danny Naisbitt from long range.

As Lewes tried to get forward down the flanks City’s full-back pairing of Craig Pope and Lee Chaffey both picked up cards in quick succession and when Wilkerson flattened Paul Booth as he chased a through ball he became the fifth player booked in the opening 23 minutes.

With the game a little over half an hour old Mark Molesley slid a free kick into Booth who in turn played in Robbie Simpson tight against the touchline in the Lewes box. The home defence were caught out as Simpson managed to force the ball back across the face of goal but when Dale Binns collected he didn’t have a clear sight of the target, however a mazy run took the fleet footed wide man back into the danger area before he was blocked out at the expense of a corner.

Former Lewes man, Craig Dobson leaves Margaro Gomis trailing

Within moments Lewes were level. Lee Chaffey found himself two on one with Jean-Michel Sigere and Amos Foyewa. French under 21 international Sigere freed the former Bournemouth wide man whose low cross was parried by Danny Naisbett, the loose ball falling kindly for Kirk Watts who had ghosted in at the far post and converted comfortably.

The Rooks were in the ascendancy at this stage with Foyewa becoming increasingly influential. He again beat Chaffey before squaring for Watts who had found an excellent position some ten yards out but the former Bromley player skied horribly over the bar when he should have doubled his tally for the afternoon.

City could have regained the lead in the dying moments of the half, Robbie Simpson latched onto Booth’s through ball and wrong-footed Robinson but shot straight at Wilkerson when a finish either side of the giant custodian would almost certainly have found the net.

Having lost their way somewhat in the closing stages of the opening period City appeared revitalised after the break. Within moments of the restart Craig Dobson was fouled wide on the right and a well worked free kick routine between Molesley and Binns saw the latter fire straight at Wilkerson.

As the game began to open up City failed to clear Dean Brennan’s free kick and as a result Watts curled a good effort narrowly wide. Robbie Simpson seized on Naisbett’s resultant goal kick and managed to fire off an early shot but his effort lacked the power to extend Wilkerson.

Paul Booth then produced another moment of magic to hand the initiative back to the Lilywhites. Glen Fuff angled a clearance from centre field out to the left wing which Jay Lovett appeared to misjudge. Booth produced a great first touch to bring the ball down and then raced clear of the trailing defenders, homing in on goal he side-stepped one challenge, drew Wilkerson and then showing supreme composure waited until he had a clear sight of goal before lashing the ball into the roof of the net.

The game was far from over however and five minutes later Lewes came within inches of grabbing a leveller. Sigere showed great skill in slipping Chaffey but appeared to over-hit his cross, he picked out Watts on the far post who hammered a drive back towards goal only to see the ball cannon off the foot of the post and away to safety.

Lewis' Leon Legge keeps a close eye on Mark Molesley

Foyewa then sent another deep cross from right to left which Watts retrieved and played back into Sigere but the former Gravesend striker’s airborne effort whistled just wide of the upright.

A little after the hour mark Lewes opened City up again through good wide play. Sigere’s intelligent lay-off freed Foyewa and his excellent cross picked out Brennan but the unmarked midfielder failed to make clean contact and the chance was gone.

Lewes appeared to have given it their best shot as the tide turned back in City’s favour. Craig Dobson started a move from deep, finding Molesley who by this time was stamping real authority on midfield, his superb curling pass sent Michael Gash (who had replaced Dale Binns) clear down the right. Making a very effective contribution from the bench the teenage striker crossed first time for Booth whose lung bursting run had got him in between the Lewes central defenders, but with the goal at his mercy the eleven goal striker fired over the bar.

Molesley then collected the ball from deep and embarked on a trademark surging run before creating the space to send a goal bound effort arrowing towards the top corner only for Wilkerson to claw the ball away at full stretch.

To their credit Lewes came again in an attempt to force a replay but despite concerted pressure they failed to force Naisbett into a serious save thanks primarily to the central defensive partnership of Glen Fuff and Matt Langston who were both in commanding form.

There was an unfortunate incident in the closing stages when Morgaro Gomis came off second best when he went in for a 50/50 ball with Molesley. After lengthy treatment the Lewes player was stretchered off with what appeared to be a serious leg injury.

The break in play made no difference to the pattern of the game in the dying minutes as City successfully saw out time to secure their place in the First Round Proper at the end of a full-blooded tie which was a credit to both the teams and the Nationwide Conference South.