With two wins under their belt under new manager Sam Morgan, Lancing travelled to The Christopher Russel Stadium full of optimism as they faced bottom club Phoenix Sports, whom they had beaten 1-0 at Culver Road earlier in the season. Three points, depending on results elsewhere, could potentially propel them into 18th place and out of the relegation zone.
With former captain, Alex Laing ,returning to take over the captain’s arm band from Sam Bull, there were solid grounds for a confidence boost.
But the side they faced bore no resemblance to one struggling at the bottom of the table as they quickly demonstrated with the game barely 5 minutes old. A cross from the right reached the unmarked William Grieveson on the left edge of the Lancing box and he had time to plant a header across the box, where it was met by Richard Pingling, who wasted no time in burying his shot into the bottom corner to put Phoenix one up.
Alex Laing was prominent for Lancing in the early stages powering forward on the right flank but an early effort on goal flew high. There was a let off for Lancing mid-way through the half when Sam Bull lost his footing allowing Deshane Dalling to exploit the space on the right but his finish was woefully off target.
It needed a vital interception by Harrison Parker to cut out a low cross from the left which would have almost certainly led to a close-range tap in as half time approached.
With less than 10 minutes gone in the second half, Lancing found themselves facing a mountain to climb. On 50 minutes Kyle Martin reacted to a cross from the left hitting the ball goalwards where it led to Charlie Gibson conceding an o.g. And two minutes later Lancing found themselves further behind when Deshane Dalling pirouetted on the ball putting it out of reach of Alieu Secka.
Sam Morgan responded with the introduction of the pace of Ahmed Belgrade for Thomas Dickson-Peters on 54 minutes. Lancing gave themselves a glimmer of hope when Noel Fisher latched on to a through ball from Ta’Shae Andall -Gibbons to prod the ball home. With just under 30 minutes to go, the game was not out of reach. Noel FIsher was looking to close the gap even further with a well struck drive which keeper Taite Holtam allowed to spill from his grasp but no Lancing player was on hand to capitalise. Lancing were battling hard to restore some pride but were unable to test the home keeper. For the final 10 minutes of normal time Shay Leahy replaced Shay Matthews .A Charlie Gibson free-kick was met in the 6-yard box by Harrison Parker but his header soared over the cross bar. Alex Laing had Lancing’s final effort on goal but his long-range effort failed to trouble keeper Holtam.
A disappointing performance from Lancing, after two successive wins, leaving them in 20th place, sharing 7 points with Steyning and Phoenix , Lancing enjoying a superior goal difference and a game in hand.
Lancing Starting XI :
Alieu Secka, Shay Matthew(Shay Leahy 81), Harrison Parker, Sam Bull, Charlie Gibson, Noel Fisher, Ta’Shae Andall-Gibbons, Harry Docherty, Leon Moore, Alex Laing (capt.),Thomas Dickson-Peters(Ahmed Belgrade 54)
Dave Wilmott
