AFC Uckfield Town

It had been a long time coming but finally The Lingers lined up to face AFC Uckfield hoping to build on the win against Little Common against a side that were relegated from the Premier Division for the first time last Saturday. Honestly, it was an energetic performance rather than a free flowing one, not helped by a difficult pitch, but just getting a win at this stage of the season is what counts. An early penalty in the first half and a second goal early in the second were enough to take the three points against a team that have improved defensively so they are not losing heavily anymore, perhaps helped by Linger loanee Toby Allen.

The first opening came in the fourth minute when Tom Green floated a free kick into the box from the right but it eluded everyone and went behind. On 7mins Jimmy Williams teed up Conor Wilford for a shot but there was no power in it and the keeper gathered it comfortably. Wilford made a break into the box but was tackled however the ball deflected for a corner. Jay Simpson delivered the corner and Luke Richardson was able to get his head on the ball but it was off target. A minute later Josh McArthur Nolan was chasing down a ball into the left of the box and went down following a loose challenge. No debate – penalty. Wilford gave the keeper no chance with the kick and it was 1-0. Uckfield had a real chance to hit straight back with a break down the right and a ball into the D but their forward had a complete air shot. The follow up shot from the left was over the bar.

On 12mins a corner found McArthur Nolan and then Simpson in the box before the ball found its way out to Chace Hanmer. His shot was deflected behind for another corner that then came to nothing. On 16mins Uckfield were threatening pushing forward but good tracking back and harassing by Simpson forced them into a poor shot that went over the bar. McArthur Nolan was aggressive in winning the ball on 22mins and then driving into the box on the left. However, the pitch was rough in that area and the ball would not sit for the shot and so when he hit it the shot was too soft to trouble the keeper. A link up between Wilford and Louis Gates on 24mins created an opening but Gates’s shot was wide of the right post. Three minutes later Gates was driving into the box on the left and fizzed a shot just over the bar – that first goal still proving elusive for him.

Uckfield were not putting much together in attack but our defence still needed to be alert and on the half hour some solid defending was required by Richardson to thwart their progress. Three minutes later after we lost possession, Uckfield fired in a good shot from the left that required a good save from Jack Webb-Olley. On 39mins a corner from the left was headed on by Richardson and found its way to Green. His shot rose over the bar as he could not get over the ball enough. With five minutes of the half remaining, Simpson had possession and passed to Wilford. Wilford slid the ball on to Williams but his shot went wide of the left post. A final chance of the half for Uckfield as they had a free kick from the left but it was delivered straight into the arms of Webb-Olley. Into added time and one last opening for The Lingers as Stephen Hodge drove down the left to deliver a cross that was met by Wilford but his header was off target.

Hanmer had needed treatment in the first half and was replaced by David Heaton at the start of the second half. In the opening minute Uckfield had a chance from the left of the box but the shot was over the bar. On 49mins the boys created two chances, first Wilford set up Williams for a shot that was saved and then Heaton teed up Wilford for a shot that went over the bar. A minute later, Simpson had the ball around the D, shielded it and then had a shot that struck the foot of the left post. Another opening came from a free kick on the left that set up Simpson for a shot that was blocked and had Wilford and Williams following up only for the keeper to claim it. Chances were coming for a second goal as on 55mins a Simpson corner found Wilford for a shot that was wide and then a minute later Gates had a shot from a central position that was rising as it cleared the crossbar.

On 57mins Williams played the ball to Simpson in a central position, he made a run across the edge of the box to the left and then tucked the ball into the bottom right corner of the net for 2-0. Our second change came on 61mins as Tyrone Magala-Bryan replaced Jake Riddington. Gates won a corner with a driving run down the right but nothing came of it. On 65mins McArthur Nolan won a free kick on the left of the D. Simpson took the kick and it flicked off a head and behind when it looked goal bound. It looked like we had a third for a moment as Green headed in a cross but a free kick was awarded to Uckfield. Two more changes followed with Ellis Newbold replacing Williams and Richie Wetton replacing Wilford. Uckfield had a rare corner on 69mins but it went behind. A final change for us with the last fifteen minutes to play as Simpson was replaced by Toby Hill.

On 77mins Heaton made a strong challenge to win the ball in midfield and find Wetton. He set Hill off on a run down the right wing and delivered a cross that was more a shot as it hit the outside of the post. It was not Uckfield’s night as when attacking down the left and running into the box their player slipped as he was about to cross and the ball rolled behind. On 84mins Hodge tidied up at the back and pushed forward to find Wetton on the right to hit a shot that was saved and behind for a corner. As the game moved into added time The Lingers were finishing with a flourish as Wetton played a through ball to Newbold. He hesitated briefly as he looked at the linesman but he was clear and one on one with the keeper but his shot was blocked by the keeper’s legs. A driving run on the right by McArthur Nolan into the box provided a cross into the six yard box. Newbold got on the end of it but his flick finish was well saved by the keeper. A comfortable 2-0 win for us.

The win together with Little Common’s defeat at home to Eastbourne United has ensured that we can finish eleventh this season. Mathematically we could still catch Midhurst & Easebourne for tenth should we win both our remaining games and they lose theirs. They host Crowborough Athletic on Saturday so we will know more by the time we play our final home game against our neighbours Crawley Down on Tuesday. Uckfield could have faced a title deciding trip to Steyning for their last game but Crowborough’s defeat at Crawley Down ended any chance they might have had so Steyning can look forward to life in the Isthmian League next season.