KEVIN KEEHAN will make a striker his top priority after Lewes were cruelly denied a point away to Oxford United.

The Rooks looked like holding out for a well-earned draw until in-form Oxford struck eight minutes from time.

A penalty miss by on-loan Barnet striker Elliott Charles six minutes into the second half ultimately proved costly.

Joe Keehan at least ended their Blue Square premier goal famine but dad Kevin knows his side need to pose more of a threat after an eighth successive league defeat.

The Lewes boss said: “The two boys up front are trying hard but we need a bit more quality there.

“Defensively we are okay, in midfield we are okay but we need a bit more up front, someone who can hold it up consistently and bring people into the game.

“There is a chance Josh Klein-Davies might come back but in an ideal world I would look to find another one as well.

“It would make such a difference if we could get another striker in there who has that bit more quality.”

Individual errors cost Lewes including Charles’ poor penalty, a Rikki Banks goalkeeping mistake for the equaliser and Shaun Wilkinson’s late red card which will now earn him a three-match suspension.

The Rooks suffered a blow before kick-off as Michael Standing dropped out with a back injury.

Stefan Cox came in for his first start for a month while the fit-again Guy Butters finally made his debut at centre-back alongside former Albion team-mate Danny Cullip.

There was an early scare for Lewes as Sam Fisk had to clear Luke Foster's fourth-minute header off the line following an Adam Murray corner.

Lewes had gone more than 11 hours without a league goal going into this game. Fittingly, it was the manager’s son who finally delivered after 689 minutes of waiting.

The game was 11 minutes old when Cox played a square pass to Joe Keehan who was allowed to advance before firing past goalkeeper Billy Turley from 20 yards.

Their lead lasted just six minutes as another Banks error allowed the hosts back into the game on 17 minutes. The goalkeeper, who made a costly mistake in the FA Trophy at Havant recently, flapped at Murray’s free-kick from the left as it flew straight in.

The wind did not help Banks but, nonetheless, Oxford’s special guest for the day Peter Shilton would not have been impressed.

Banks responded well by beating away a free-kick from Murray in a similar position on 33 minutes.

Lewes should have been back in front on 51 minutes but Charles’ unconvincing penalty was saved by Turley after Keehan was chopped down by Adam Chapman.

Oxford pressed hard for a winner in the final 20 minutes but Lewes seemed to be holding out comfortably.

However, their defences were breached eight minutes from time following a corner which the linesman had called as a goalkick only to be overruled.

Craig Nelthorpe’s subsequent flag kick was met by big defender Foster who headed into the bottom corner.

Wilkinson was then red carded for violent conduct for flooring Nelthorpe after the pair clashed sparking a melee of players.

Ultimately the loss of Standing, who normally takes penalties, proved extra costly.

Keehan said: “Michael has missed eight games and we have had four penalties in those games, scored one and missed three.

“In the second half we started quite brightly but what gave them a real lift was the penalty miss. It got the crowd up and affected us as well as them.”

Lewes: Banks; Barness, Cullip, Butters, Fisk; Breach (sub Foreman 83), Wilkinson, Keehan, Cox; Charles, St Aimie. Subs not used: Hall, Wallis-Tayler, Liburd, Winterton.

Booked: Keehan (63, foul), Cox (66, foul).

Sent off: Wilkinson (85, violent conduct).

Oxford United: Turley, Batt, Willmott, Foster, Carruthers, Haldane, Chapman, Hutchinson (sub Odubade 55), Nelthorpe, Murray, Farrell (sub Day 90). Subs not used: Clarke, Taylor, Hinchliffe.

Booked: Murray (66, ungentlemanly conduct).

Referee: Mr P. Melin (Hampshire).