Lancing were sprinkled with a dose of the fabled new manager bounce as we ushered in the Sam Morgan era with a pulsating and much needed victory. It had seemed a case of more as the same as visiting Ashford moved into an interval lead and on course for a second win over us in a matter of weeks. But the rejuvenated Lancers were resuscitated with two goals in six second half minutes, fittingly delivered by our two best players on the day in Noel Fisher and Knory Scott.
Morgan’s appointment was confirmed on Wednesday and was in the dugout for the visit of fellow strugglers Ashford. His soon-to-be new look Lancing showed two changes from the midweek thumping at Burgess Hill. Sam Bull returned to captain the team alongside Harrison at centre-back and Knory came back in after illness. He replaced Lewis Lembikisa who took up a place on the bench. The ground fell silent as club stalwarts Terry Cartwright and Simon Short laid a wreath and the Last Post was poignantly played on the day before Remembrance Sunday.
In front of a sizeable crowd of 202, Morgan’s men were immediately on the back foot. Given our nasty habit of conceding goals both early and late, there was a sense of foreboding when United’s 15-goal top scorer Gary Lockyer seized on an errant loose ball. Culver Road held its collective breath as the powerful front man looked set to seal Lancing’s self inflicted fate, but the ball kissed the post on its way wide.
Tom Dickson-Peters crossed for Knory but his cross was cleared by Ashford’s well drilled defence before Ta’shae had a daisy cutter held by Mitchell Beeney at the other end.
Harrison headed wide but, when the next notable moment came, it went the way of the visitors. The side from the Garden of England cherry picked their chance when Alieu came to intercept from Preston Kedwell. But the keeper failed to get there and Lockyer accepted his invitation to sweep the ball home into the empty net in the 27th minute.
Lancing’s most likely route back into the contest came from the pace and trickery of Noel. One such run saw him surge into the penalty box but no one was there to meet his tempting delivery and the chance was gone. That was the last action of the half with much to admire about shot shy Lancing’s build up play but familiar shortcomings in the final third.
Half time: Lancing 0-1 Ashford United
Results elsewhere meant Lancing were bottom of the pile at the interval but this was a side with a point to prove for their new manager. A side with renewed vigour and the sense of occasion the start of this new era deserved.
Dickson-Peters was having his best game in a Lancing shirt and teed up Ta’shae to flash a shot wide. No doubt inspired by Sam the man’s well chosen half time words of wisdom, Lancing were level with our next attack. Noel’s persistence and perseverance paid off as another jinking run presented him with a shot at goal. This time there was no mistake as his angled effort squeezed beyond the covering defender and goalkeeper Beeney to creep in. With an injection of belief into the veins of all those with Yellow and Blue in their blood, so the Lancers came again.
Six minutes further on and Culver Road erupted once more. Knory latched on to a through ball and poked under the advancing keeper to spark scenes of wild celebrations from players, fans and coaches alike.
But the job was not done yet. Louis Collins curled a set piece over the top before Knory went close at the other end when his shot was tipped wide by Beeney.
The quick feet of Ashford sub Mikey Berry looked to be the visitors most likely route to salvation, but – marshalled magnificently by Messrs Parker and Bull at the back – Lancing’s newly found resilience kept them at bay.
Tom had a shot blocked after Knory, a constant thorn in United’s side, had slalomed through the defence. Our effervescent no.7 was then replaced by Ahmed Belgarne in Lancing’s one and only change.
The fresh legs of Ahmed fashioned a chance for himself only for Beeney to save and Secka then blocked a Berry effort at the other end.
With this side’s tendency to concede late, the final seconds were watched through our fingers with all eyes on the referee. Time seemed to stand still as Ashford continued to attack but, moments later, the final whistle was met by the kind of roar this place hasn’t witnessed in a while.
The importance and emotion of this win should not be under-estimated. It felt like the turning of a corner, the dawning of a new era and, most crucially, a day to make up ground on our rivals. All three of the other relegation dwellers were beaten and we go to bottom club Phoenix Sports with renewed momentum, fresh impetus and something to build on.
Full time: Lancing 2-1 Ashford United
MOTM as chosen by match sponsor Dave Taylor – Noel Fisher
YABA!!
Lancing starting XI: Alieu Secka; Shay Matthews, Harrison Parker, Sam Bull, Charlie Gibson; Harry Docherty, Leon Moore; Knory Scott, Ta’shae Andall – Gibbons, Noel Fisher; Tom Dickson – Peters. Substitutes: Ahmed Belgarne (for Scott 90), Leon Fisher, Lewis Lembikisa, Ryan Riddles, Shay Leahy.
