Lingers close the gap at the top a little more!

We are without Co-Manager David 'Dixie' Dean for this game and next week due to some cruising around the Caribbean of some sort; his final words were '6 points Lads!' Clear objectives for the players. Bob and Simon reiterated the importance of the continuation of results, especially as the Top 3 all meet each other, and some tough fixtures over the coming weeks. Hailsham with mixed results so far came into the game with slightly more positive thoughts; suffering their first defeat in the league since mid September last week at Storrington. Has to be said that the pitch was quite borderline, with any due heavy rain potentially giving this game an early finish.

Nevertheless, it was on! And Lingfield started the game probing the opposition, dominating possession, and collecting a fair few strings of passes. Hailsham fell into a very direct approach, looking to proceed on the counter attack. As tough as the conditions were, Lingfield never phased from their game plan and were able to produce a lot of well worked moves and passages of play. Getting the breakthrough on the half hour mark, again recycling the ball from side to side before an opportunity to progress, Mwanza got forward down the left to cross from deep; the goalkeeper challenged in the air by Clements, as it went through to Wilford to compose and half volley home, 1-0. The ascendancy with Lingfield, and was time to try kill the game off, plenty of attacking football. It was 2-0, when a set piece got recycled by Johnston who wormed his way through into the box and to the byline to square for Graves to lash home; the centre-halfs combined. Hailsham had a couple of half chances to come forward on the counter; most of which came from our own mistakes. HT 2-0.

No letting up was the message; and especially no liberty taking! We made it 3 very quickly in the 2nd half, a counter of our own from a Hailsham corner, Wetton rolled a defender on the half way line, played forward for Dembele down the left, who whipped his low cross around the tracking back line for Clements to get on the end of. A cushion for Lingfield to use and play with, saw Hailsham have to try and squeeze higher up the pitch. Still dominating possession, Lingfield started to pull Hailsham's strings apart, a clever reverse flick from Wetton opened up the defence for Dembele to go one on one and bury, 4-0. A full set of changes as Turner, Bakhit and Connolly all came on and just carried on with the momentum and joined in on the quality of football being played. Dembele got round the left hand side through sheer pace and power, his cut back was slotted by the very reactive Connolly, 5-0. Finally, could it be a Lingfield win without a Wetton goal? The last play of the game, a corner from the left, a small scramble in the box, and it fell for the striker to volley home, 6-0. FT. A comprehensive victory.

Back to back 6-0 wins in the league now, with Langney beating Wick today too, sees us get a point back on the top spot, as Little Common return to mount it. We travel to Southwick next week, after another cup tie midweek away at Langney. Little Common host Langney, whilst Wick face Steyning next week; and not possible for all sides to pick up maximum points, meaning potentially a big week to get within even closer touch of the league.

A big thank you to all the travelled to show your support, and to Hailsham for their hospitality. Look forward to seeing you all midweek as we take on Langney in he league cup.

MOM Nick Dembele
By Sammy Clements