Lancing Starting XI :

Mitch Bromage , Clayton Garner, Will Berry, Liam Hendy, Steve Metcalf, Finn Daniels-Yeoman,Matt Daniel, James Rhodes, Conrad Honore, Mark Goldson, Ansu Janneh.

Substitutes:

Alberto Lubango, Ben Connolly, Tariq Brown, Harrison Parker, Darius Goldsmith.

A first start this season for joint manager James Rhodes, a debut for new signing Steve Metcalf, at left back and Matt Daniel back in the starting line-up were the changes for Lancing following their home defeat by Cray Valley, as they looked to secure their first points of the season away to Chichester.

It was a positive opening spell for Lancing with Steve Metcalf , Matt Daniel and Mark Goldson combining well on Lancing’s left. Lancingwere trying to play long balls in behind the home defence for the willing Matt and Mark to run on to but passes were over hit and players were caught offside. Steve christened his debut when he received a yellow card after 16 minutes for a late tackle on Emmett Dunn. Lancing were rocked back after 24 minutes. The ball was swept wide to Kareem Haitham on Chichester’s left. He had space and time to look up and curl a superb shot beyond Mitch Bromage into the top corner of his goal.

Lancing tried to hit back and Conrad Honore hit a well-judged pass behind Chichester’s left back which put Matt Daniel in on goal but play was halted with the offside flag being raised. Lancing were working hard, particularly Mark Goldson , pressuring the home defence and always on the move.

A promising interplay between James Rhodes and Tariq Brown on Lancing’s right wing finished with a good early cross which hit the side netting. Some more threatening moves from Lancing came to nothing as there was a tendency to get caught offside.

Lancing were able to contain Chichester but were almost undone when Jamie Horncastle let fly with the ball glancing off Liam Hendy before being put behind by Mitch. Mark Goldson showed good skill on the ball, turning sharply finishing with a good effort on target which led to a corner. This produced Lancing’s best chance of drawing level as the ball in from the corner reached Will Berry on the far post. Unfortunately, Will was unable to get a good connection and put his header wide.

Mitch was then called into action as the half neared the end with a couple of good saves with Will Berry helping to keep the ball out, as it fell to a Chichester player, by getting his body in the way.

The half ended with Matt Daniel making a good run to the bye line and getting in a shot which hit the side netting. Chichester enjoyed the better of the half but Lancing showed a lot of energy with their forwards Ansu, Matt and Mark getting plenty of touches in the opposition half.

No substitutions were made at half time but, barely the minutes after the restart, Lancing suffered a blow with the commanding Will Berry suffering an ankle injury, which forced him out of the game. Tariq Brown came on in the right back slot with Clayton Garner partnering Liam Hendy. Mark Goldson was lively for Lancing getting a couple of early shots on target. The second had keeper Kieran Magee forcing the ball away at full stretch and as it was played back towards goal, James Rhodes attempted to get a head on it but could not direct it goal-wards.

10 minutes in, Mitch pulled off another top class save as he put a well struck free kick from Gigu Jordache over the bar. Lancing’s hopes of getting back in the game plummeted in the space of a couple of minutes. Firstly, Scott Jones was picked out at the far post from a cross deep on the right and he responded by a well-directed header into the far corner. The centre forward had the ball in the net two minutes later to put the game out of reach on 61 minutes.

James Rhodes had given way to Alberto Lubango on 60 minutes. A good run by him earned a corner, which Finn Daniels- Yeoman met with a firm downward header. Keeper Magee managed to half clear it and as the ball was played back towards the goal it was cleared off the line.

Conrad Honore was replaced by Ben Connolly in a last throw of the dice for Lancing. He was soon making his darting runs but Lancing were unable to carve out any clear openings. A second yellow card was given, this time to Tariq Brown. As the game reached the closing stages, Chichester capitalised on a rare defensive slip by Liam Hendy to add to their goal tally, the scorer being substitute Callum Overton.

So, Lancing remain pointless and sit at the foot of the table after three games. The score line was not a true reflection of the balance of play. Although accepting that Chichester were deserving winners, the Lancers put a lot of honest endeavour into their game and, but for a two-goal spell in two minutes, might have held the score at 1-0 for a bit longer, which might have given them the impetus to grab an equaliser.

No one let the team down. They worked hard from start to finish but Chichester had the edge with their speed of passing and driving forward runs.

Matt and Mark worked well together with good backing from Steve Metcalf.

We committee members present were impressed by the work rate and strength on the ball displayed by Mark Goldson . He was using his pace to put pressure on the home defence but a few offsides prevented him from doing any real damage. Mark was our MOM.

Dave Wilmott