Injuries are piling up for Lewes after they suffered a cruel defeat away to Cambridge United.

The hosts struck in the first minute of stoppage time to finally break the Rooks’ resistance.

It was not the prettiest of games but Lewes, who went into the contest on the back of a three-match unbeaten run, looked like they had done enough to hold on for a point against their sixth-placed hosts despite the odds being stacked against them.

Already without playmaker Michael Standing with a groin injury, they lost goalkeeper Rikki Banks with a back problem in the warm-up and Kerry Mayo limped off before half-time with a knee injury.

Joe Keehan is also struggling with a calf problem ahead of two important home games against fellow strugglers Forest Green on Saturday and bottom side Northwich a week later.

Manager Kevin Keehan admitted luck seemed to be against his side at the moment but feels the game showed how far the Rooks have come in recent weeks.

He said: “Three or four weeks ago we probably would have thought this was a good result. We have made lots of strides. We didn’t play that well but we probably had the best two chances of the game and we are gutted we didn’t get something out of it.

“When you look at it like that we have made a lot of progress. There is still room for improvement and we need to get another player in if we can but we don’t look like we are going to fall apart at any time now.

Commitment “It is about belief, commitment and desire to win. We have got to dust ourselves down, go into these two games and attempt to get six points.”

American Dean Ruddy came in for his first start for Lewes after Banks suffered back spasms in the warm-up.

Keehan said: “It wasn’t great losing Rikki. Dean did very well but it did affect us, certainly for the first ten minutes.

“Losing Kerry as well was a major blow because I thought him and Joe were starting to boss it.”

Keehan made two other changes to the side that drew at Grays on Saturday with Steve Elliott replacing the injured Michael Standing and Stefan Cox coming in for Ollie Rowland on the left hand side of midfield.

Jack Compton, who was due to join the club for a month from Albion, was not in the 16 due to complications with his loan.

Ruddy made two fabulous saves on five minutes to prevent Cambridge from taking an early lead. First he tipped Mark Beesley’s shot over the bar, then he threw himself full length to push Wayne Hatswell’s low shot round the far post from the resulting corner.

Home full-back Dan Gleeson had Ruddy at full stretch again on 24 minutes but his rising shot from 20 yards just cleared the crossbar.

The Rooks suffered a blow just before half-time when Mayo went off injured to be replaced by Rowland.

Scott Taylor had the best chance of the game on 53 minutes after being played in by Keehan but home keeper Danny Potter saved well.

Cambridge responded with Felino Jardim drawing a fine save from Ruddy at his near post, Gleeson heading over from a corner and Lee McEvilly dragging a great chance wide of the far post from eight yards when he had just Ruddy to beat.

This signalled a spell of pressure from the hosts which Lewes survived and then threatened themselves on the break when Keehan poked the ball into the path of Sam Gargan whose shot was saved at the expense of a corner.

However, it was Cambridge came back strongly and Beesley side-footed a great chance wide of the far post on 88 minutes.

It looked like Lewes had done enough but in the first of four minutes of stoppage time Jon Challinor fired low through a crowd of players from ten yards after the Rooks failed to get the clear under pressure.

Cambridge United: Potter; Gleeson, Bollard, Hatswell, Tonkin; Willmott (sub Holroyd 72), Carden, Challinor, Jardim (sub Farrell 72); Beesley, McEvilly. Subs not used: Farrell, Jones, Holroyd, Crow, Drench.

Booked: Hatswell (25, foul), Challinor (73, foul).

Lewes: Ruddy 7; Barness 7, Cullip 7, Breach 7, Thomas 7; Elliott 6, Keehan 7, Mayo 6 (sub Rowland 42, 7), Cox 5 (sub Wallis-Tayler 72); Taylor 6 (sub Fenelon 82), Gargan 6. Subs not used: Graves.

Booked: Cox (30, foul), Gargan (34, foul).

Referee: John Farries.

Attendance: 3,194.