Lancing were sunk by a former flame as Noel Fisher inspired high-flying Horsham YM to a comfortable Culver Road victory.
The Lancers welcomed another top seven side to HQ to end a sequence of three successive home ties. Noel and Leon Fisher returned with the promotion-chasing visitors whom also included Shay Matthews and Gideon Acheampong.
Dylan Hurst was initially named in our starting line up but withdrew in the warm up with Marcus Grice drafted in for a debut at right-back. Oliver Deda also made a Lancers bow whilst Adrian came in to the team for the suspended Tyrese.
YM had won their last five matches to climb to third in the SCFL, so this always looked a tall order for the lowly Lancers.
Although Lancing did show commendable spirit, we paid the price for a poor start in which we found ourselves 2-0 down in the blink of an eye.
First, Dan Webster headed down for the bizarrely named Adam Adam whom in turn teed up Noel to apply the finish after 72 seconds – his fifth goal in as many games.
Then, five minutes further on, Adam Adam turned from provider to scorer when Ousmane Dansoko pilfered possession and set up the frontman to fire in beyond Callum.
Sam Hards went close and Noel was denied by Monks but having survived without any further damage Lancing, albeit briefly, found it within themselves to rally.
Deda marked his debut with a goal when Ore’s outswinging corner fell kindly to the left-back, up for the flag kick, to power home a header.
The mood inside Culver Road changed in an instant with belief coursing through the veins of all those with Yellow and Blue in their blood.
But no sooner had Lancing tentatively grasped a foothold, the rug was pulled out from underneath us.
Only three minutes separated the third and fourth goals of the game. Dansoko proved a pain for Lancing all game long and it was he whom proved crucial in the instant re-establishment of YM’s two-goal advantage.
Dansoko’s pace and trickery took him away from Lancing’s backpedalling defence. When he was scythed down under a mistimed challenge, Dansoko finished what he had started as he stepped up to stroke in the resultant spot-kick for the fourth goal of the game with the contest 20 minutes old.
Hards, Dansoko and Fisher all went close before Ellis, the Lancers standout man so far this term, rattled the upright with a set piece. Had the ball flown a few inches lower, it would have set the Lancers up for the second half with renewed vigour. But, alas, instead that was as good as it got.
It was a lead YM would never relinquish with the Lancers at times bedazzled by their quick passing and intricate movement.
Hards rounded Monks but was unable to find the target before Callum saved superbly to deny Matthews the jackpot on his old stamping ground.
But there was no let up as YM hit four in the 66th minute. It was all down to Hards as his run and hold up play allowed the recently-arrived Jesse Sentamu to sweep in and put the result beyond any lingering doubt.
The Lancers day went from bad to worse when Deda’s mixed debut was cut short. Our new left-back received a second booking on the far side of the field as Lancing once again ended a player short.
This was an afternoon to forget for all of a Lancing persuasion but we will go again and seek a response when we visit Eastbourne United on Saturday. Then comes a vital six-pointer against second bottom AFC Varndeanians in a fortnight.
Lancing XI: Callum Monks; Marcus Grice, Will Berry (c), Isaac Brown, Oliver Deda; Scott Packer, Ore Allen; Mo Khedidji, Adrian Nsue-Sha, Ellis Collier; Omar Abdsami. Substitutes: Baran Kartal (for Khedidji 68), Kane Louis (for Grice 80), Alfie Knight (for Nsue – Sha 83), Dylan Hurst, Will Tillman. Att: 162
