Lancers welcomed some familiar faces back to HQ as we battled to a creditable point in challenging conditions. With Storm Darragh throwing everything it had to offer at the Sussex coast, Sam Morgan’s men looked to do the same as promotion-chasing Sheppey came to town.
The Lancers boss shuffled his pack with four changes from the 3-1 win at East Grinstead. ‘Gorgeous’ George Taggart and Jack Meeres, two integral figureheads in last season’s historic season, re-signed for the club on Friday. Both were brought straight into the team, in lieu of Sam Bull and the stricken Alex Laing. Joe Thomas dropped to the bench and Blake Loyza was not in the squad so Ta’shae and Knory were restored to the XI. Docs was captain in the absence of Laingy.

This was a Lancing line up looking strong both in terms of quality and depth. In one of only five games taking place across the division, the visit of fifth-placed Sheppey posed the toughest test yet for Sam the Man’s improving Lancers, who had just been voted the SNLF Team of the Month.

The ferocious winds buffeting Culver Road, and the 189 hardy souls sheltering inside it, made a thrill-a-minute spectacle almost impossible. Instead, this was an ugly, largely attritional contest which saw the ball blown backwards and even the most simplest of passes at the mercy of the weather gods.

Harry Heath found Knory with a teasing early cross but the ball was cleared. The visitors most dangerous outlet came consistently through the pace and trickery of Danny Leonard. He saw a low effort skim the post on its way wide before his one-on-one meeting with James Dillon was halted at the last minute with the intervention of an offside flag.

Lancers saw more of the ball but, whether by design or circumstance, had to be content with a series of pot-shots from distance.

Taggs looked to catch the wind with a 25-yarder but his effort drifted to safety over the bar. Knory was crowded out under pressure and another sighter from range, this time from Leon Moore, flew into the grateful gloves of Ites stopper Aiden Prall.

Victor Aiyebula tapped in what he thought was the visitors opening goal, but he had strayed into an offside position.
Gibbo fired wide with another shot from distance before Knory linked up with Harry ‘double H’ once more. Having worked the ball intricately between them, the former picked out the latter but Prall was off his line quickly to cut out the danger.

Half time: Lancing 0-0 Sheppey United

Gibbo flashed wide with an angled effort then went close soon after with a trademark free-kick. Noel Fisher had been scythed down on the edge of area, but our left back’s wait for a first goal in Lancing colours goes on after his shot beat the wall but found the side netting.

James Dillon did well to snuff out the threat at the other end as he raced from his goal to smother at the feet of forward Gil Carvalho whom had latched on to a through ball.

Leon had a shot deflected over the bar and Tags volleyed wide, when he perhaps should have done better, from the resultant flag-kick.
But Sheppey, like the onslaught provided from above, remained a threat. James saved well to tip wide from Mamadou Diallo and sub Dan Bradshaw dragged wastefully wide after he had burst into a promising position.

A couple of half chances came and went at both ends but, ultimately, although we had more of the ball and superior territory, a draw was a fair result. It is hard to make a case that either side did enough to win, but this was a hard fought and well earned point.

Since his appointment last month, Morgs’ has pieced together a Lancing team playing with confidence, control and a confidence previously conspicuous in absentia. Whilst there is still a long way to go and we’re far from out of danger, the Lancers uptick in level has given us every chance of beating the drop.

The Lancers travel to perennial high flyers Ramsgate on Saturday before we welcome mid-table Sevenoaks.

Lancing XI: James Dillon; Harrison Parker, Jack Meeres, Harry Docherty (c), Charlie Gibson; Leon Moore; Harry Heath, Ta’shae Andall – Gibbons, George Taggart, Noel Fisher; Knory Scott. Substitutes: Joe Thomas (for Scott 74), Shay Matthews, Emmanuel Abudiore, Etienne Frimpon