Heath and Hasler inspire victory as Lancers strike Gold
Lancing 4 Littlehampton Town 2
Joe Hasler and Harry Heath powered the league’s great entertainers to another thrilling victory in the A27 derby on New Year’s Day.
Lancing’s last five matches have seen 29 goals scored and our latest high wire act saw the team climb out of the bottom four and up to the relative utopia of 18th place – our highest position all season.
There was just one alteration from the side thumped 5-0 by Deal last time out as Shay Matthews came in for the absent Jack Meeres. Harrison dropped to centre-half alongside captain Harry Docherty. There were three ex-Lancers in the visitors line up, as Tom Butler, Nic D’Arienzo and Marcel Powell returned to Culver Road. Before the match Manager Sam Morgan received the SNLF Team of the Month award from Gareth Spinks 
Struggling Littlehampton arrived at HQ two points and a place above the Lancers, in our wing mirrors as one of the sides in the congested battle to avoid the drop. Come full time, the two sides had traded positions with Sam Morgan’s men now breathing the rarefied air of Isthmian League salvation.
Josh Short’s free-kick picked out Scott Kirkwood to head on goal, but James Dillon reacted well to preserve parity in the 24th minute.
Lancing’s first opening of the tie fell to ‘Gorgeous’ George Taggart, whose shot from distance was blocked by a Golds defender.
The breakthrough came with the very next attack shortly before the half hour as Harry went down under a challenge. Lancing’s top scorer, returning to face his former side, dusted himself off to squeeze the spot-kick under Mac Chisholm for his ninth goal in seven games since re-signing.
Harry H went close again when he sliced a shot wide having been picked out by Charlie Gibson.
A near 300-strong crowd had braved the awful conditions for this pivotal, six-pointer Sussex derby and were sent into raptures again when Lancing moved further ahead on 33 minutes.
Harry H was again at the heart of things as he was played in by Taggart. Heath poked the ball beyond the advancing Chisholm but saw his shot hacked off the line. Harry kept the move alive and recycled the ball back into the path of Joe who stroked in for his first goal in Yellow and Blue – the new arrival from Uckfield the latest cast member to make a seminal impact in Morgan’s Culver Road resurgence.
Littlehampton made a rarely seen first half move with a triple substitution as Ryan Yoro – Thomas, Jordan Layton and Dean Lovegrove were introduced and the visitors went to a three at the back system.
Half time: Lancing 2-0 Littlehampton
Memories of our near implosion against Sevenoaks Town were still all too fresh in the memory and a third goal was needed to settle the lingering doubt.
Lancing may have still held a position of comfort, but needed that age old combination of goalkeeper and centre-back to keep Littlehampton at arm’s length.
Player/manager George Gaskin was denied on the volley by Dillon and the ball sat up for Kieron Pamment five yards out, but Docherty somehow slid across to thwart the forward with a stunning reflex block.
But Lancing ensured we would welcome 2025 with the precious reward of all three points against our relegation rivals. After Noel flashed a shot over the bar following a series of stepovers, he was heavily involved in the nerve settling clincher on the hour. Noel twisted and turned into the penalty area, Ta’shae had a shot blocked and Joe clipped in over Chisholm for 3-0.
Joe completed his treble with another close range finish, again with good work from Ta’shae, to tap in the fourth 14 minutes from the end.
Golds substitute Evan Hoarty had a brief spell at Culver Road earlier this season and pulled a goal back for his side when he finished well after a mazy run.
Noel saw a shot from distance pushed away by Chisholm before Matthew Short, another sub, headed in a second in the final minute.
A shout out also to the referee and his assistants. All three men let the game flow superbly, got every major decision right and contributed to an excellent game played in a good spirit.
The players, officials and supporters of the Lancers experienced the highs and lows of football in 2024. After our unexpected promotion challenge fell agonizingly short, this term’s battle against the drop provided a stark reality check from the halcyon days of the year’s early months.
But now we can look forward to 2025, residing outside the bottom four for the first time all season. There is still a long way to go, but there can be no doubt this group of players will give it their all, inspired by the vociferous backing of those watching on, as we turn for home.
Match sponsors Sussex Decorators 
chose Noel Fisher as Man of the Match but with a nod to hat trick hero Joe Hasler as a very close second.
YABA!
Lancing starting XI: James Dillon; Shay Matthews, Harry Docherty (c), Harrison Parker, Charlie Gibson; Leon Moore, George Taggart; Harry Heath, Blake Loyza, Noel Fisher; Joe Hasler. Substitutes: Ta’shae Andall – Gibbons (for Loyza 50), Lewis Lembikisa (for Heath 72), Leon Fisher (for Noel Fisher 90), Emmanuel Abudiore, Alex Laing.
