If anyone thought Lewes had cracked it after back-to-back home wins, then think again.

Seven days after the euphoria of beating Forest Green 3-2, the Rooks were sent back to the bottom of the table in emphatic style.

A humbling home defeat against rock bottom Northwich confirmed what many believe – that Lewes are odds-on favourites for the drop.

Saturday’s performance had the look of a relegated side and things need to pick up again quickly.

The recent haul of eight points from five games proves this side is not without hope but manager Kevin Keehan cannot afford too many more performances like this, particularly as it followed an equally inept showing against Bognor in the Setanta Shield.

This season was always going to be tough for Lewes and full of ups and downs but this was one ‘down’ that should have been avoided.

Another injection of new faces is needed urgently, particularly with an important FA Cup fourth qualifying round trip to Leiston on Saturday.

Keehan he knows he needs new signings and he will be working hard this week to address that.

He said: “We have had to lift the players before and we will do it again. We have got to look at more players and see what we can do in that respect.

“We had the improved spell and up until Tuesday people would have said there had been a big improvement but I have been looking at it and thinking I still need another three players. That has now became a bit more evident.”

One player who may not be part of the immediate plans is winger Stefan Cox, who upset Keehan with his attitude on Saturday.

Keehan said: “We were disappointed with his attitude, particularly in the warm-up, and I have had a long chat with him.

“He has great potential but there has got to be an end product. He has played the last three games and not got a ball in the box.”

Asked if Cox was about to leave the club, Keehan said: “I am talking to him. There is nothing final. Like one or two we are probably better off getting them out on loan.

“Stefan has great ability, good feet and tremendous pace and fans can get excited about him because he can run past someone like they are not there but you have have to get the ball in the box if you want to score goals.”

Northwich arrived at the Dripping Pan on Saturday with just one point away from home all season and five players ruled out by injury or suspension.

Throw in a goalkeeper who looked more shaky than someone in a denim jacket signing “This Ole House” and Lewes really should have won.

However, they were 2-0 down in 11 minutes and then pressed the self-destruct button early in the second half having got themselves back into it.

Jonny Allan scored the opener on eight minutes and soon after Darryn Stamp headed in after an Aaron Burns effort came back off the crossbar.

Michael Standing’s return from a groin injury lasted 23 minutes and Lewes were fortunate not be further behind before Scott Taylor got them back into the game with a smart finish on 36 minutes to end his nine-match goal drought.

Lewes came out fired up for the second half but conceded a penalty on the break on 51 minutes when a half-hearted challenge from Chris Breach sent Burns sprawling and Danny Williams converted from the spot.

After that Lewes never looked like getting back into it and their second goal in stoppage time, when Mark Roberts turned an Aswad Thomas cross into his own net, was no more than a consolation.

Keehan said: “It didn’t start great for us and didn’t get a lot better. They out-fought us and we ended up playing too many balls to their strengths.

“In the first half we had a few players who were panicking on the ball and just hooking it on. We didn’t get going. Having said that I still thought we could have got something out of the game.”

Lewes: Banks; Barness, Cullip, Breach (sub Sackey 86), Thomas; Standing (sub Fenelon 23), Keehan, Rowland, Compton; Taylor, Gargan. Subs not used: Wallis-Tayler, Cox, Barton.

Booked: Taylor, Cullip, Breach.

Northwich: Tynan; Aspin, Roberts, Grand, Brown; Allan, Welch, Williams, Winn (sub Riley 90); Stamp (sub Benjamin 39), Burns (sub Farran 83).

Subs not used: Jones, Wharton.

Booked: Allan, Welch, Farran.

What do you think?