Loxwood FC

An evening visit to the wooded Loxwood ground is a pleasant experience and more so to come away with a comfortable win to erase the memory of Saturday’s defeat at home by Shoreham. After conceding a poor goal from a corner, the lads hit back within minutes to take a 2-1 lead they never lost.

Loxwood made the brighter start with more possession in the opening minutes and an attempt on goal on 4mins that went wide. Two minutes later a free kick from the left was headed behind for a corner. On 11mins a free kick from the edge of the box was curled around the right side of the wall but also wide of the right post. So far it seemed like there was a bit of hangover from Saturday but on 21mins we had our first shot on target as Josh McArthur Nolan drove forward down the left to set up the chance for Jay Simpson to shoot but it was straight at the keeper. A minute later it was a corner for Loxwood from the right delivered into the centre of the box but their shot went straight at Jack Glassborrow. It was our corner routine next as David Heaton laid it back to Jason Stripp to cross into the box. The ball was cleared out to Luke Richardson to cross back in and end up in the arms of the keeper off a Lingfield head. The ball was won back from the goal kick and Simpson played the ball into the left side of the box for Richie Wetton to run onto for a shot but straight at the keeper.

In the 26th minute another Heaton corner from the right was met by Richardson but his header was cleared. Three minutes later it was a Loxwood corner from the left that was a poor low delivery but it found a Loxwood boot and then the net for 1-0. A soft goal to concede but just a couple of minutes later it was Richardson pushing down the left to play in McArthur Nolan who tucked the ball away for the equaliser. Then on 33mins it was Wetton playing the ball out to the left to find Richardson once again raiding down the wing and cutting in to stroke the ball into the right corner of the net for 2-1. Louis Gates was pushing down the right flank on 39mins and was fouled when cutting in to a central position. The free kick from Wetton was cleared but Richardson challenged for the ball and won a corner. The corner from Simpson was cleared to McArthur Nolan to attack the box until tackled. The ball came out to Richardson for another shot but this time his curled shot was wide of the right post not inside it. On 43mins a free kick from Richardson was lofted into the box for Wetton to challenge with the keeper who gathered it well under his pressure. Moving into added time, Loxwood put a good free kick into our box but it was headed behind for a goal kick. In the second added minute Simpson played the ball out to Gates on the right for a run along the byline into the box and win a corner that was strangely given as a goal kick to end the half. After a bright start and taking the lead, losing two quick goals had taken the steam out of Loxwood.

The second half started slowly with the lads keeping control and Loxwood lacking drive to trouble us. On 54mins Conor Wilford worked space around the D and hit a good shot that flashed wide of the left post. From regaining the ball from the goal kick, George Branton played the ball to Simpson who then combined with Gates on the right and set him clear to put a cross into the six yard box forcing the keeper to gather it. On 58mins it was time for a first change as Nathanial Wiliams came on for Wetton. Clear chances were few and far between as that final ball was not coming off while Loxwood were offering little threat. On 75mins a free kick was played from the left to Simpson on the right, where he played in Gates for a shot that sliced to the left of the box and was nearly collected by Wilford. Two more changes saw Chase Hanmer replace Stripp and Josh Magrath making his debut for The Lingers to replace Simpson. McArthur Nolan made a surging run forward as the last ten minutes approached, coming in from the left to attack the centre of the box where Loxwood tackled cleared the ball behind for a corner. It was that man again on 83mins as Gates won the ball in great style and set him up to drive into the box on the left side but the ball just got away from his control at the vital moment. Last five minutes and Tom Green replace Wilford as the game went through a flat period. Having looked bereft of any ideas to trouble us, in the first added minute Loxwood put the ball in the six yard box but Glassborrow claimed it well to snuff out any danger. Gates earned a rest for the last couple of minutes as Jimmy Williams came on. The final whistle came and three points were ours.

An important win to give us momentum going forward to the next game against an Uckfield side that are really struggling at the foot of the table with just two wins right at the start of the season and their last points coming from four draws back in October. We are still in tenth place in the table as results went our way. The gap to Peacehaven & Telscombe in ninth closed to five points as they lost against table toppers Crowborough Athletic and have played a game more than us. Our neighbours Crawley Down were held to a draw by Pagham so the gap opened to four points but they have two games in hand.

It was a tough choice for Man of the Match as Luke Richardson got the nod over Josh McArthur Nolan.