The Lancers made the short 22 mile journey up the A24 for our second visit to the curiously named Bodymould Mattresses Stadium – home of our Sussex divisional rivals Broadbridge Heath.
In our first away game since the opening match of the campaign, boss Jamie Hollis made three changes from the midweek defeat to AFC Croydon as we made the short hop to the home of the Bears.
Callum Erskine, Noel Fisher and the returning Owen Spicer were recalled in lieu of Harrison Parker, Ahmed Belgarne and Evan Hoarty. That meant, with Sam Bull injured and Noel and Knory’s selection, there were only two survivors from our maiden and most recent visit here.
To evoke memories of the late ‘Motty’ and his infamous Spurs gag, Lancers were, indeed, in the all yellow strip. We had an early sight of goal when Erskine, playing through the middle to test the Bears towering centre-backs, linked up with Luke Robinson, stationed wide on the left.
Not for the first time on this afternoon, the build-up play was promising but nothing came of it as Robbo’s run was halted, albeit legally, by a covering Bears defender.
Ben Aubrey’s flicked header called Alieu into action for the first time in the game but the next chance that came the homesters way ultimately proved our undoing.
And it came to pass, it was a tale as old as time itself as Lancers were haunted by the ghosts of a returning ex.
Charlie Parmiter’s corner resulted in a spot of penalty area pinball as Salvatore Marino’s header was blocked, but not cleared. Another ex-Lancer, Callum Dowdell, had a swing at the loose ball before Kyle Sim, once of our very own Culver Road parish, fired on goal.
His effort flew through a posse of players and found its way beyond the unsighted Secka to put his new (ish) side ahead against his former employers.
Although not the finest watch for the neutral, there was at least an intruiging clash of styles on show as Lancers neat passing moves and crosses from wide looked our most likely source of success.
In stark contrast, the Bears were well drilled, physical and a constant threat from set-pieces.
Will Eastwood saved well from an Erskine sighter, Charlie Gibson’s cross-shot caused a brief moment of alarm and Aubrey somehow sent a free header wide at the other end.
Lancers almost gave Broadbridge a taste of their own flag-kick medicine as Knory skewed a volley wide having been picked out by Tashae Andall-Gibbons at the back post.
The Lancers had done enough to make their hosts sweat on their narrow advantage with the Bears happy to sit back, soak up the pressure and look to hit us on the counter.
One such moment almost provided a game-clincher but Secka came to his side’s rescue as he parried away to deny Louis Evans on the turn.
Lancing introduced crowd favourite Harrison Parker in an effort to turn the tide, and his impact was almost immediate. Noel had switched to the left wing to collaborate with Gibbo and the pair’s tete-a-tete nearly paid dividends when the former found the later to pick out Harrison.
Parker raced onto the ball and looked certain to tuck away but he somehow failed to make clean contact and could only turn over the ball with the goal gaping. It looked easier to score and there were collective heads in hands aplenty from all of a Lancing persuasion.
Shay Matthews tried his luck from distance and substitute Stan Berry was narrowly off target as, despite Lancing’s persistent perseverance, the fruitful reward was not forthcoming.
The general consensus amongst the small but loyal travelling Lancing faithful was we definitely deserved something for our efforts, particularly in the second half. There was a vast uptick in performance and you don’t always get what you deserve.
One of the good things in football is the chance to make amends always come round quickly. Lancing visit another Sussex rival on Tuesday as make the short trip to Littlehampton and then host Margate next weekend.
Lancing starting XI: Alieu Secka; Shay Matthews, Shay Leahy, Owen Spicer, Charlie Gibson; Tashae Andall – Gibbons, Leon Moore, Knory Scott; Noel Fisher, Callum Erskine, Luke Robinson. Substitutes: Harrison Parker (for Erskine 70), Stan Berry (for Scott 75), Ahmed Belgarne (for Matthews 84), Harry Docherty, Evan Hoarty.
Yellow cards: Spicer (66)
Attendance: 156
