Lingers progress in FA Vase

A more local trip for all associated with Lingfield to Whyteleafe FC on Church Road to host our last home game away from the Lair before we are due to return in under a couple weeks time. Still beats having to go Eastbourne twice over a Bank Holiday! Epsom & Ewell or the Salts as they prefer to call themselves I believe came into the tie on the back of an exit from the FA Cup after extra-time against Beckenham Town.

No Ransome, No Carney, starts for Connaris and Connolly up top together as an opportunity to impress management. Pickett fully recovered to start. Moore returns to the sticks and give his chance. Graves back on the bench as he begins to rack up a bit of fitness before entering the fold. Wilford and Fuller dropped to the bench as we change our shape. The game on a Friday night opened up our schedule for a Lingfield FC Golf Day on the Saturday which I’ll get onto later.

The game itself took a very similar course throughout the evening, Connaris and Connolly ran their back 4 riot at times, a high line held by the Salts left them over exposed to anything in behind. We could’ve opened the scoring within 15 secs with Connaris’ effort bobbling into the hands of the keeper. It wasn’t much longer before it was 1-0, worked from left to right as Pickett got to the byline and his low cross was tapped home from Connolly’s 2nd attempt after another Linger joins the list of players to have practice shots before making contact. Every time we went forward it looked as though could score, it was 2-0 after a Stead long diagonal, which I headed back down to the feet of Connolly, 1 touch and pulled the trigger with his left into the bottom left hand corner. Great finish. 3 followed before the break, and Connolly completed his hat trick, getting the ball out wide on the left beyond their full back to which Stead’s first time low delivery was comfortably tucked away as Connolly appeared to have an age of time 6 yards from goal. And it concluded a very effective first half, 3-0 HT

More of the same for the 2nd half... and it was so, this time Connaris getting in on the act, a ball down the right hand side for Connolly to get onto and play a well weighted cross for Connaris to meet and hit first time. 4-0. It was 5 from the same man, a poor attempted clearance at the back spooned up into the air and the path of Connaris who spun and got his shot away before the keeper could react, and the game was completely out of reach now. The poor fella who tried to clear it wasn’t to happy to be asked for £2 for his air kick. Pickett’s last involvement before he departed was a mazey run in and out of 2/3 players and smash almost through the keeper into the roof of the net to make it 6-0. Graves and Fuller came on as part of the 3 at the back to sure things up. Within about 4.7 secs of them coming on they made sure we didn’t keep a clean sheet; Salts left back cut inside and reportedly toe punted it into the top left hand corner, unstoppable for Moore. 6-1. Johnston tried his best to get the visitors another with a nearly missed clearance that spun dangerously towards his own bottom corner. Even gave their players a thought they could get back into it 4 minutes from time. But it did finish 6-1, and we’ll take on Croydon AFC or Worthing Utd in the next round I believe as an away tie. Very productive performance from all, especially the 2 young boys leading the line.

To the Lingfield FC Golf day then... first handicaps were under negotiations as people strived for what they felt was required to play some adequate golf, whilst consuming some alcoholic beverages. Pickett the top player in the field off scratch, was almost +1 after he claimed he’s turned pro in the past. The likes of Bakhit, and Mayhew in the field who don’t play golf, and clearly weren’t there to play golf. Member Mike Moore someone to watch off of his official handicap. Connaris lost 5 shots in the shower after the game for being investigated into allegedly practicing every day midweek. Easy to say, whatever promised from the front 9, was quickly wiped away by the beers on the back. The winning team of myself, Mike Moore, and individual winner Conor Wilford still yet to receive our winnings. Something about me picking the teams... A quality day regardless and managed to get some more fine money in the kitty. Stead’s air shot followed by not making the ladies the best of the lot!

We travel to Shoreham in the Peter Bentley 2nd Rnd proper on Tuesday night, and we hope to see all you Lingers in full voice!

MOM Jake Conaris

Up the Lingers

By Sammy Clements