Steyning Town - SCFL

Our hosts Steyning Town had lost their 100% league record following two draws away from their billiard table pitch but were still the only team in the league yet to lose a match. After a good effort at Haywards Heath, could we improve on our recent defeat here in the Peter Bentley Cup.

Jay Simpson had our first attempt on goal with a shot from the left edge of the box on 2mins. Steyning Town had an attempt from a corner that Jack Webb-Olley saved two minutes later and were keeping up the pressure and from a ball over the top on 7mins had a shot from the left of our box that was put wide of our right-hand post. Steyning Town were pressing us well and in possession playing the ball over the top for their quick forwards to chase. The lads had a chance on 17mins with Simpson testing their keeper from the left and his save fell to Jimmy Williams who could not get the power in his header. On 26mins a corner into our box allowed them a free header and it looped in under the bar for 1-0 to Steyning. The linesman raised his flag to give us brief hope, but following discussion with the referee, the goal stood.

We were holding it at just one goal as the end of the half approached but then on 40mins, Steyning made it 2-0 with a shot across Webb-Olley into the left corner of the net. To make it worse, as the lads pushed forward from the restart, we were caught short of numbers at the back as Steyning made it 3-0 on 42mins. In added time, Webb-Olley saved from a flick on from a free kick but then in the last action of the half Simpson surged into their box and was pushed down. No penalty….apparently. A case of déjà vu as once again Steyning Town lead 3-0 at halftime.

Just as in the cup match, The Lingers made a good start to the second half and on 49mins a determined challenge by Stephen Hodge won the ball on the left, he drove into the box and hit the bar with his shot. The rebound fell to Williams who fired it in for 3-1. Sadly, the wind was taken out of our sails when Steyning got clear on the edge of our box and despite good blocking by Webb-Olley, they had a man spare to put the ball in the net beating a defender trying to cover on the line. With the score at 4-1 and looking ahead to the next match Richard Wetton was replaced by Joe Condon. The lads were making life hard for Steyning but passes were a yard short or a yard long. Simpson had another chance from the left on 69mins that was saved. A couple more changes came with Daniel Harvey replacing George Branton, and Josh McArthur replacing Williams. On 69mins Steyning had a chance to make it five but the shot was way over the bar. Luke Richardson had taken a knock and was replaced by Sam Addison. Shortly after Addison crossed onto the box from the left but couldn’t find a Lingfield head.

Webb-Olley pulled off a save on 78mins, and then Steyning headed over from a corner minutes later. On 84mins we lost the ball on our right, and the resulting shot squeezed past Webb-Olley to make it 5-1. A final chance for Steyning from a corner was headed over so the match ended 5-1 again. Steyning Town remain the only team in the league yet to lose a match and still have two or three games in hand on the five teams above them in the table. We slip a place to 11th in the table but attention switches to the FA Vase next Saturday where this experience on an artificial pitch may prove useful.