Isthmian League South East Division
Chichester City 1 v Lancing 0
Tuesday 31 Jan.2023
ATTENDANCE 161
Lancing Starting XI
Alieu Secka, Will Berry, Marcus Allen, Owen Spicer, Mahamadou Juwara, Finn Daniels-Yeoman (Capt.), Darius Goldsmith, Reece Hallard, Ashley Mutongerwa, Marcel Powell, Modou Jammeh.
Substitutes:
Kyle O’Brien, Tyrese Muthunzi, Charlie Towning, Callaghan Stobbart.
When these two sides met back at the beginning of September there was very little between them. Lancing showed the greater attacking momentum on that occasion without posing any great threat to keeper Kieran Magee. Chichester adopted a direct approach hitting long balls, many of which were overhit.
A solitary goal by Louis Veneti, since departed for pastures anew, was sufficient to earn Lancing three points. The game was marred by a nasty foul against Mo Zabadne by Ben Pashley , for which he was dismissed.
Dean Cox kept faith with the players who finished so strongly in the remarkable comeback against Burgess Hill, with the exception of Ashley Mutongerwa, coming in for the unavailable Kane Louis.
Chichester were full of energy from the kick off with lots of darting quick movement which had Lancing at full stretch. Ethan Pritchard, who had impressed back in September, forced a foul by Mo Juwara in a dangerous spot on the right corner of the Lancing box. The resultant free kick was wasted with a blast well clear of the bar.
Reece Hallard was prominent for Lancing and he finished off a strong run by creating a scoring opening for Ashley Mutongerwa, whose effort was diverted behind for a corner.
With the game only 14 minutes old, Ethan Pritchard used his pace to good effect to get onto a through ball which he latched onto inside the box. With no defender close enough to challenge him, he wasted no time in hitting a fierce drive towards Alieu Secka’s near post. The Lancing keeper got a hand to it but the power in the shot was too much for him to keep the ball out.
Lancing’s first goal attempt came on the half hour mark, with a shot from Ashley Mutongerwa which brought a fingertip save from Magee, but it would have counted for naught as he had been flagged offside. Reece Hallard was making determined efforts to get into the final third and Marcel Powell was making some headway on the right flank, with a cross which had Magee punching the ball clear and a shot on goal deflected for a corner.
Ashley Mutongerwa almost capitalised on a poor back pass but Magee was able to race from his line to hammer the ball into touch. The nearest either side came to scoring, as the half progressed, fell to Ethan Pritchard who beat Alieu Secka to the ball but Owen Spicer had read the situation and was able to come to his side’s rescue clearing the ball from the goal lin. Chichester, much as they did at Culver Road, were overhitting their through balls, which Alieu Secka was able to collect.
As has been their wont this season, Lancing raised their game in the second half. Marcel Powell had another effort deflected for a corner and Finn Daniels-Yeoman hit a low drive which had Magee at full stretch to keep out.
On 57 minutes Lancing’s first substitution saw Ollie Starkey coming on for Marcel Powell.
Lancing were pressing hard for an equaliser but it was Ethan Pritchard who came closest to scoring with a long-range effort which resulted in a corner. A second substitution for Lancing had Tyrese Muthunzi on for Will Berry on 76 minutes. Despite a strong finish Lancing could not break down a dogged Chichester defence who were happy to wallop the ball clear when necessary. The home side posed little attacking threat but were content to maintain a solid shield to keep their lead intact.
Last substitution for Lancing brought on Charlie Towning for Darius Goldsmith. The officials added a miserly 6 minutes of added time, when any reasonable calculation would have awarded at least 9 minutes. During this spell Lancing were on constant attack winning a series of corners from which they were unable to capitalise. Main danger man for Lancing, Reece Hallard embarked on a mazy run getting past a few defenders, cutting inside to finish with a shot on target but straight into the arms of Magee. Time ran out almost immediately afterwards.
So, Lancing missed the opportunity to clinch the double and leapfrog Chichester, who now occupy 10th place with 29 points, Lancing dropping to 14th on 26.
This was a game in which defences were on top. Chichester’s central defenders allowed Ashley Mutongerwa little room to manoeuvre, marking him tightly throughout. Will Berry, Owen Spicer, Marcus Allen and Mo Juwara kept a tight rein on Chichester’s lively forwards, considerably restricting their scoring opportunities. Little to choose between the teams, as in their first game. One goal was enough to decide the outcome.
Disappointing for the team and travelling supporters, some 20 Ultras giving great vocal support, plus somewhere in the region of 20 other supporters and committee. Not bad representation out of a gate of 161.
Good to see that Marcus Allen has come through two successive 90 minutes and looks not to have suffered any loss of form after his injury absence.
The committee selected Reece Hallard as their Player of the Match. He gave his all again and was Lancing’s main threat to the opposition with some strong direct running.
Dave Wilmott
