Town score twice to edge out Lancing
Lancing were undone by Eastbourne Town’s Hover craft as right-back Nathan struck twice in the second half in a disappointing away defeat.
Lancers’ second all-Sussex affair in three days (I’ll stop short of calling this a derby) saw us make the 32 mile trip down the coast to the Saffrons for our first meeting with ‘The Town’ since 2020, when both clubs plied their trade in the County League.
Eastbourne’s very own Yellow and Blue football club were sat firmly in mid-table on their return to this level after a ten year absence. Hot on the heels of our rousing New Year’s Day win over Littlehampton, this presented the Lancers with an opportunity to build consistency and momentum as we bid to climb away from relegation trouble.
Sam Morgan was forced to shuffle his pack and made four changes from that win. The Lancers were depleted and understrength with Blake Loyza and hat-trick hero Joe Hasler absent. Louis Pittock came in at right-back, with Jack Meeres returning to centre-half and Harrison on the left. Lewis Lembikisa and Ta’shae came back into the XI with Gibbo and Shay amongst the subs.
Lancing immediately found themselves on the back foot and were forced to defend a flurry of corners. One of them in particular sent pulses racing as ex-Lancer James Waters swung the ball in. James had to be alert to tip the swirling ball over the top to prevent an early opener. .
At the other end, chances were at a premium for us, clad in Coventry-esque Sky Blue. In the absence of Blake and Joe, Harry H ploughed a lone furrow up top, isolated at times against Town’s towering centre-backs.
He battled admirably but was given very little loose change with our main goal threat forced to the fringes of a largely attritional contest.
On the one occasion he did find himself in on goal, however, Chris Winterton was equal to Harry’s effort as he tipped Heath’s snapshot wide after good work from George Taggart.
Perhaps unsurprisingly on a heavy pitch, set pieces seemed the order of the day and the Lancers went close with one of our own soon after. Tags attempted header from the latest flag-kick caused mild panic in the Town defence but another ex-Lancing man, this time Dan Hull, headed to safety off the line.
The opening goal came on 52 minutes and it was a full-back to full-back ploy as Jack Murphy crossed for Hover to hang in the air and loop a header over Dillon for 1-0.
James Hull, another whom was once of this parish, dragged a shot wide and Marcin Ruda also went close with a 20 yarder.
Tags free-kick skimmed the bar and the hard-working Harry H fired a half chance into the side netting. The state of the Saffrons pitch was a big leveller with the ball often bobbling away from its intended target on a surface more suited to wing play and crosses than neat and tidy possession football.
And it was from one such scenario that saw Town put the tie beyond doubt 20 minutes from time. Leon Greig’s corner was flicked on for Hover to pick his spot and poke in at the near post. Remarkably for a full-back, it was his fourth goal in two games having scored twice last time out in Town’s draw at Beckenham.
Alex Laing, on for his first appearance after two months out, did his best to change the narrative but Winterton was equal to his dipping set-piece strike.
There was at least Gibbo’s first Lancing goal for our lively band of travelling fans to cheer. Harry’s throw in was flicked on by Noel and dropped for substitute Charlie to stab the ball in but, in the sixth minute of added on time, it came too late to matter.
We travel to Littlehampton in the Sussex Senior Cup on Tuesday (weather permitting) and then host Herne Bay next Saturday.
Lancing starting XI: James Dillon; Louis Pittock, Jack Meeres, Harry Docherty (c), Harrison Parker; Lewis Lembikisa, Leon Moore, George Taggart, Ta’shae Andall – Gibbons, Noel Fisher; Harry Heath. Substitutes: Alex Laing (for Lembikisa 60), Charlie Gibson (for Pittock 70), Shay Matthews, Leon Fisher (for Moore, Andall – Gibbons 85). Booked: Heath, Andall – Gibbons
