Saltdean United

With tough away trips to Haywards Heath Town and Steyning Town ahead, the visit of Saltdean United currently in 15th place and with indifferent form looked to be a good opportunity to continue our unbeaten run in the league. The Lingers made a good start and in the first minute Jay Simpson went forward down the left and put in a cross that flew across the face of the goal. Minutes later Dennis Asante pushed forward into the box to create a chance. The good work paid dividends on 6mins when a cross from the left of the box by Simpson was headed home by Luke Richardson for 1-0. On 14mins a ball forward by Tom Green from around halfway was gathered on the left by Simpson, who cut back from the bye line and fired a shot across the keeper into the top right corner to put Lingfield two up.

The lads kept the pressure up and on 22mins Haydn Dickinson delivered a free kick from the left that was cleared by Saltdean. Minutes later, Saltdean fashioned a chance with a cross from the right that was saved by Jack Webb-Olley. The Lingers had another chance with a cross from the left by Dickinson that Asante met with his head but couldn’t keep down. Simpson was really causing problems down the left and on 32mins forced a save from the Saltdean keeper with a shot. Saltdean then got forward down the right and fired a shot over the bar for the last chance of the half. The lads kept control of the final 10 minutes of what had been a good first half topped off with two goals.

Saltdean were the fast starters in the second half and on 48mins had a shot from the right corner of our box that Webb-Olley saved. They kept coming with an attack down the right that ended up with the ball going out for a goal kick, and on 59mins a Saltdean corner produced a shot that went over the bar. So far, the lads had been off the pace of the game in this half and not created a chance. A strain forced the withdrawal of Simpson to be replaced by Jamal Robinson-Davids, and Josh Nolan came on for Jimmy Williams to freshen things up. After a heavy challenge, Charlie Davies was replaced by Daniel Harvey.

You couldn’t argue that Saltdean were not worthy a goal in this half and an attack into left side of our box saw Webb-Olley come out to block but catch their player for a clear penalty. The penalty was placed into the top left corner and on 73mins it was 2-1. The Lingers came forward on 78mins and a cross into the box from the right by Toby Hill was just too hard for Asante to control and make something of. Minutes later came a glorious chance to take a 3-1 lead as Daniel Harvey played an excellent ball into left side of their box but Dickenson put his shot past the right-hand post resulting in a few heads in hands. We might have rued that missed chance but for some solid defending and good work from Webb-Olley between the sticks in the final 10 minutes. A well delivered free kick into our box was well saved by Webb-Olley on 83mins and then from the corner a goal bound shot was headed clear. Saltdean won a free kick on the left corner of the box, and the well struck shot was heading for the top right corner until Webb-Olley pulled off a superb save.

As the game went into what was expected to be five added minutes things became tetchy with some hard challenges. Toby Allen came on for Asante as the added time kept extending as tempers frayed. Saltdean were pushing hard for an equaliser and their keeper came up for a corner. The ball was cleared and with their goal wide open, Toby Allen just couldn’t wrap his foot around the ball enough to find the net. With the game still going on, Sam Addison replaced Hill as a final free kick for Saltdean went over the bar and the final whistle came during the 13th minute of extra time. A poor half for us that left the lads hanging on to win 2-1 to make it 6 league games unbeaten and up to 8th in the table.