Lewes have been tipped to become Ryman division one south champions this season by one of the biggest names in non-league football.

Weymouth player-manager Steve Claridge, who is known to enjoy a flutter, admits he would put his money on the Rooks after seeing them push his Dr Martens premier leaders all the way in an incredible FA Trophy third round.

The former Birmingham, Leicester and Portsmouth striker scored two goals to help the Terras come out on top in a goal-feast at the Dripping Pan.

He said: "They are more than likely going to win their league, so we knew they were a quality side and there was no chance of us underestimating them.

"We knew what to expect. For an hour when they got the ball they passed it and worked hard, which we didn't do.

"They stretched us all the way and I thought we could have easily lost the game. Thank goodness we can score goals otherwise we would have been in trouble.

"I think the last time I was involved in a game which had 13 goals I was about ten-years-old."

Rooks manager Steven King knows if his side are going to win the league they must improve defensively.

Last week Lewes lost 6-1 against mid-table Banstead, their second league defeat in three games.

Saturday's incredible scoreline illustrated perfectly the good and bad sides of the Rooks this season.

They threatened every time they went forward and scored five goals against a team who boast the best defensive record in their division. But their impressive attacking play was outweighed by too many mistakes at the back.

King is convinced Lewes can play at a higher level but admits his there is still work to do.

He said: "Weymouth are meant to be the best of their bunch but everyone could see we more than matched them and at times we ripped them apart.

"Of course I'm going to look at the defensive side of things because we gave them their goals, they didn't have to work for any of them.

"I am disappointed because I thought the game was there to be won but apart from the mistakes we made at the back I've got to be happy with the effort the lads put in."

Lewes equalised three times but on each occasion conceded a goal within minutes.

The scoring started after just nine minutes when Claridge headed home unmarked at the back post from a corner.

Lewes were level five minutes later when Kirk Watts met Marc Whiteman's cross to head in from close range.

Within three minutes Weymouth restored their lead as Paul Buckle beat Dominique Jean-Zepherin to a ball over the top, rounded the Rooks keeper and slid into an empty net.

Junior Kadi equalised for the home side on 19 minutes with a shot from the edge of the area, but Lewes had not learned from the earlier warning as Weymouth again regained the advantage within 60 seconds.

Full-back Luke Nightingale slammed in the first goal of a hat-trick from 12 yards to make it 3-2 at half time.

The bumper crowd had to wait until the hour mark for the next Lewes equaliser which again sparked a goal-frenzy.

Danny Davis scored with a superb 20-yard angled drive, before Nightingale hit his second a minute later despite a suspicion of offside.

The former Portsmouth professional added an almost identical strike two minutes later to make it 5-3 but Lewes again came back strongly with Peter Adeniyi finishing from close range after a cross from Davis on 69 minutes.

That gave Lewes hope but for the fourth time Weymouth were gifted the advantage just moments later when Jean-Zepherin hauled down Lee Phillips for a penalty.

Claridge saw his spot kick saved by the Rooks keeper but followed up to bundle the ball over the line.

The game looked beyond Lewes when Phillips scored from close range on 79 minutes but the action was not over as Davis hit-back six minutes from time.

Phillips completed the scoring with his second on 88 minutes, which was quickly followed by a needless off the ball incident involving Rooks substitute Mark Watson and Steve Tully which saw the Lewes man sent off.

The scoreline could have been even more. Watts hit the post just after half time and Kadi saw a curling shot come off the bar in the closing stages.

Rooks defender Jay Lovett said: "It was an unbelievable game but it was not a very good day to be a defender.

"Every time we looked like getting back into it they went down the other end and scored.

"I think it is a one-off because they had some quality players up front like Claridge.

"We have to concentrate on trying to win the league now and we are a good enough side to bounce back.

"Hopefully we can continue to score goals but also keep some clean sheets as well."