Lee Newman rolled home the last minute penalty which breathed controversy into the Horsham Lewes derby and new life into the division two title race.

But Horsham will take a lot of convincing of the validity of the handball verdict which ended their 27-game unbeaten league run.

A match which, for 88 minutes, meandered tamely towards stalemate suddenly caught light in the closing moments.

Home skipper Gary Charman, having been the unfortunate victim in the penalty row, was sent-off for a late tackle a minute later.

He can expect to miss three of Hornets' five remaining matches as they look to keep clear of Rooks, who now trail by four points with two games in hand.

As a spectacle, this was disappointing fare for Queen Street's biggest league gate in years.

But the importance of the occasion made it captivating viewing and lovers of fine defensive play would have been in their element.

Winger Charman was doing his bit at the back as Rooks stitched together one last attack.

He tracked diligently across to block a driven cross from Ross Venables, then watched in horror as assistant referee John Coleman flagged for deliberate handball just inside the box.

Referee Clive Penton, who had an outstanding game, had no option but to point to the spot, from where young Newman expertly guided the ball down the middle as Ian Chatfield plunged to his right.

It was a potentially pivotal moment in the season and Lewes boss Jimmy Quinn admitted: "That puts it back in our hands.

"As the game wore on it didn't look like there was going to be a goal.

"In all big games it is usually a mistake which decides things and the Horsham boy made a mistake when he raised his hands in the box.

"I don't think either team played as well as they can but games like this are never the thrillers you think they are going to be unless you get an early goal to open it up.

"There's still a long way to go. I didn't think it would have been decided today."

Charman admitted the ball had struck his hand but asked: "What are you supposed to do? You are three yards away from the fella and he drills it straight at your hand.

"We had one like that earlier on and we didn't get it.

"We are absolutely gutted but we've got five games left, they've got seven, and there will be another twist. It isn't over by a long way."

Neither would it have been had the contest finished level, which looked the most likely outcome after Lewes hit a post and their hosts produced the best on-target goal attempt.

Joe Clark saw his improvised volley from Peter Brackley's cross bounce away off the upright 15 minutes into a second half which was appreciably better than the first.

Eight minutes later, Luke Gedling whipped in a 30-yard free-kick which the diving Ross Standen held just inside his post.

Standen also tipped over a Dave Flemming chip and blocked at the near post from a Marcel Dennis cross which Horsham optimistically claimed had been diverted by a Lewes hand.

At the other end, Chatfield plunged bravely at Clinton More's feet, having produced a similar stop from Newman just before the break.

Otherwise it was all about defenders. Marc Cable and Stuart Hack were superb for Rooks against a Horsham strikeforce needing two goals to hit the 100 mark in league matches.

They got good support from midfielders Clark and Junior Kamara, both former Horsham players, and Venables was quietly effective against Charman, a potential matchwinner.

Brackley and San Francis promised much with their touch and movement but were both sacrificed in the final 26 minutes as Quinn sought a winning formula up front.

Gedling produced some nice touches in Horsham's midfield and Dennis's arrival as an orthodox right winger offered variety.

But again, it was at the back where they shone brightest, notably stopper Eddie French and full back James Bird.

Now both sides prepare for the final push and they are agreed on one thing. The race will go the distance.

Cable said: "It was pleasing to keep a cleansheet because they have been scoring goals for fun in the league.

"If we had lost, it would have been a nail in the coffin for us, but we are back in it now."

Horsham boss John Maggs would not have minded landing that hammerblow to his rivals.

Instead he had to conceded: "It will probably go down to the last game of the season now, which is exciting for some people but not me. I would have preferred a little bit of breathing space.

"I suppose you are not supposed to talk about officials but here is one who could possibly cost us the league."

Horsham: Chatfield, Bird, Barnes (sub Dennis 54), French, Kirby, Carney, Gedling, Payne, Taylor (sub Mackay 85), Flemming, Charman. Unused sub: Andrews. Red card: Charman (foul).

Lewes: Standen, Kamara (sub Palmer 77), McCallum, Venables, Hack, Cable, Brackley (sub Curnow 64), Clark, Francis (sub More 72), Thomsett, Newman.

Referee: Clive Penton.

Attendance: 962.

Men-of-the-match: Cable (Lewes), French (Horsham).