Hurricane Harry returned to leave Herne Bay all at sea and power the Lancers to back-to-back home wins for the first time this season.
Sam Morgan’s side showed grit and then guile as we followed up our win over Littlehampton on New Year’s Day with a first ever victory over the Kent coasters to move four points clear of place-below Golds, albeit having played two games more.
Lancing fans had become accustomed to watching events through their fingers in the form of several, wild harum scarum thrillers. But this was a relatively routine victory as Lancers turned on the style before half time and then defended diligently for a fourth clean sheet of the season.
Only Tash, Harry H, Mario, Harrison and Gibbo retained their places from Tuesday’s Senior Cup tie at Littlehampton. With James Dillon injured there was a debut for QPR loanee Conor Clark, whilst Joe Hasler returned and there were also recalls for Tags, Jack Meeres and Louis. With Alex Laing unavailable, namesake Plummer was yet another player to return to his spiritual home having taken a familiar route via Haywards Heath.
The recent cold snap had played havoc with football fixtures up and down the land. This was only one of three games to be played in our division, and the spate of postponements locally no doubt contributed to a season’s best crowd (including the return of our soon to be dethroned Supporter of the Year, the lesser-spotted Liam Kinsella).
And Lancing’s fast, up tempo start would certainly have warmed the cockles of the 353 spectators inside the ground. Quiassaca flicked an early opening wide having been picked out by Gibbo, and Joe poked just the wrong side of the post after good work by Harry H. Jack Meeres was denied by good hands from Josh Bexon in the Herne Bay net after he met a teasing Gibson corner with a header.
But just eleven minutes into the game and the rejuvenated Lancers led. It was a goal made by two of our recent Culver Road returnees. Heath turned provider as he collected the ball and ran at Bay from deep. The ball was only partially cleared into the path of Taggart to lash a first time finish beyond Bexon without breaking stride. It was our popular midfielder’s first goal since re-signing for the club and was met by a tuneful rendition of his chant. 
Kane Haysman prodded in what he thought was a leveller for the visitors only to find his celebrations cut short by the assistant referee’s offside flag.
Having gone close moments earlier, Harry extended our lead with his now customary goal, on the stroke of half-time.
There was perhaps an element of fortune about this one as striker and goalkeeper challenged for the ball. Despite some half-hearted appeals for a foul on Bexon, Harry reacted quickest to the loose ball to steer an acrobatic finish back over the keeper and in off a post.
Half time: Lancing 2-0 Herne Bay
Clean sheets have been hard to come by this season, but, helped in no small part by the unstinting efforts of the Lancers’ latest centre-back pairing in Messrs Meeres and Pittock, there was to be no undue alarm after the break. Whereas the first half was built on style, substance was very much the order of the day with the Lancers content to hold what we had. It may not have won many prizes in a style or artistry contest, but there was much to admire about our resilience and doggedness.
Teenaged debutant Clark had little to do between the posts, but he tidied up well, was vocal and showed excellent handling under the high ball. Substitute Artem Kuchkov tested the stopper’s powers of concentration with a shot from distance, but the keeper was equal to it and held on well.
Ethan Smith skewed wastefully wide when he should have done better, whilst Harry and substitute Noel went close to a third at the other end.
But, this time, and to the relief of all those inside Culver Road, there was to be no late squeaky bum time drama. Lancing saw out the closing moments with no further scares to secure that first ever win over the Bay, at the fifth attempt.
And so, for the first time this season, Lancing have daylight between ourselves and the bottom. This win moved us to within three points of our vanquished opponents, themselves level on points with Three Bridges (but the latter have three games in hand). AFC Croydon and East Grinstead, our next home opponents on the 25th, are also firmly now in our sights with everyone of a Lancing persuasion now looking up the table rather than down.
George Taggart was chosen as the Official Man of the Match but the whole team can take a collective round of applause. Honourable mentions to Jack Meeres, Joe Hasler and Alex Plummer for excellent individual showings.
Lancing XI: Conor Clark; Harrison Parker, Jack Meeres, Louis Pittock, Charlie Gibson; Alex Plummer, George Taggart, Ta’shae Andall – Gibbons; Mario Quiassaca, Joe Hasler, Harry Heath. Substitutes: Noel Fisher (for Quiassaca 62), Harry Docherty, Leon Moore (for Pittock, Plummer 84), Callum Erskine, Shay Matthews (for Heath, Andall – Gibbons 90). Booked: Quiassaca
Words – Jamie Spoor, Pictures Jay Wrighte
