STEVE IBBITSON hailed his young side after Lewes suffered a cruel 2-1 defeat away to Ebbsfleet.

The Rooks finished the game with seven teenagers on the pitch after losing key duo Joe Keehan and Chris Breach with ankle injuries.

On the back of successive victories, they matched an Ebbsfleet side desperate for a win to ensure their own survival and could have got more from the game but for two controversial decisions.

Ebbsfleet’s equaliser in first-half stoppage time came from a free-kick given against Breach, who looked to be the victim of a foul, while Luke Rooney was denied a penalty early in the second half.

However, it was the performance of his youngsters which Ibbitson was more keen to talk about afterwards.

He said: “We competed well and deserved something out of the game. I was much more pleased with the performance compared to Saturday.

“The youngsters are playing well but you don’t get concessions for playing teenagers. The other team don’t think, ‘They are all kids, we have got to take it easy on them’, which demonstrates they are doing particularly well.

“They are doing well against ex-League players playing for some of the strongest non-league sides in the country and not one of them looks out of place. I am tremendously proud of them and also the experienced players who respond to the youngsters.

“It augurs well for the future. If we can keep some of these lads together and keep an experienced spine then hopefully next year we have got something to work on.”

There was a worrying moment for Ebbsfleet in the 14th minute when Darius Charles bundled over Tim Rivers as he appeared to be in behind the defence but the home skipper escaped with a booking.

Lewes were out-passing their hosts and almost went ahead on 34 minutes when Breach met Michael Standing’s free-kick with a diving header which flew past the far post.

Rivers then fired past the near upright following a threaded pass from Rooney, who moments later had a 20-yard shot tipped over the bar by goalkeeper Lance Cronin.

Ebbsfleet made a change on 36 minutes, taking off former Crawley defender Sacha Opinel who looked in danger of a red card after three fouls on David Wheeler.

The breakthrough deservedly came four minutes before the break when 17-year-old defender Josh Jirbandey met Standing’s corner at the near post with a right-foot volley into the top corner.

Ebbsfleet levelled in the third minute of stoppage time from a free-kick awarded against Breach.

Rashid Yussuff’s strike came back off the wall but he buried the rebound low into the bottom corner.

Lewes were forced into a change at half-time with Ben Osborn replacing the injured Keehan and they lost Breach on a stretcher three minutes into the restart following a clash with Michael Gash.

Grant Hall’s arrival brought the average age of the side down further but they continued to push forward and were unfortunate not to be awarded a penalty when Rooney appeared to be chopped down.

Ebbsfleet had more luck with a penalty decision on 71 minutes when Sam Fisk was adjudged to have fouled Guiseppe Sole, who tucked away the spot-kick.

Ibbitson was disappointed but realistic about the key decisions.

He said: “The player was backing into Breachy and all Breachy did was just stand there. I was not happy with that decision. If we had turned round at 1-0 we would have been in the driving seat.

“I couldn’t fully see the penalty but it looked to me that Luke was dragged down.

“However, we had our share of luck on Saturday. It all evens out and it probably did today.”

Breach’s ankle is sprained rather than broken but he will almost certainly miss Saturday’s trip to Northwich.

Lewes: Banks 6; Barness 7, Jirbandey 7, Breach 7 (sub Hall 52, 6), Fisk 6; Wheeler 6, Standing 7, Keehan 6 (sub Osborn 46), Rooney 7, Storrie 6; Rivers 7 (sub Sutton 79). Subs not used: Foreman, Bell.

Booked: Barness, Rooney, Fisk.

Ebbsfleet: Cronin; Stevens, Crooks, Charles, Opinel (sub Pooley 36); Yussuff, West (sub Sole 59), Ricketts, Long; Gash (sub Ibe 88), Shakes. Subs not used: Purcell, Mott.

Booked: Charles, Ricketts, Opinel.

Referee: Stuart Burt (Northampton).

Attendance: 1,098.