Lingfield given a reality check by Phoenix Sports

The Lingers were brought back down to earth with a bump after their impressive 5-1 win against Epsom & Ewell the week before in the FA Vase, with Chan Quan’s goal for Lingfield merely a consolation in the thrashing.

But while Lingfield boss Dean admitted that he knew his side would be in for a tough match at unbeaten Phoenix Sports, he said that his side did not do enough on the day and did not help themselves.

“We had too many players missing,” he said.

“We had three or four players out, including Joel O’Hara, Harry Sintim and Brendon Kiernan and that cost us.

“We gave them a couple of goals through mistakes and started chasing the game and it opened us up as we went three at the back.

“We then conceded a few goals late on and maybe we should have shut up shop, because you don’t want to lose in that manner.

“But in the big scheme of things, we weren’t really expected to get anything at Phoenix Sports and we have to try and prioritise the games where we can get something.”

As such, Dean says his main focus is currently on the second-round FA Vase tie against Combined Counties League Division One side Chessington & Hook United on Saturday, November 22.

However, the Lingers are in action at home against Southern Counties East League big spenders Greenwich Borough on Saturday.

And Dean admits that it will be another tough game, particularly with the injured O’Hara set to miss out again.

Kiernan has also left to join Conference South side Ebbsfleet United, while Sintim is also likely to be unavailable again, leaving Dean short of options once again.

“It is another game that we are not expected to win,” he said.

“Greenwich will probably win the league and they will be expecting to come here and beat us.

“But we showed in the [league] cup against them that we could threaten them and we had them rattled at 2-1.

“They came through it in the end [6-2] but you never know what could happen here at Lingfield.

“We will give it a go and see whether we can get something, but the big game for us is the week after in the Vase.

“To win that would be massive for the club and that is one we have to prioritise.”

Read more: http://www.eastgrinsteadcourier.co.uk/Lingfield-given-reality-check-Phoenix-Sports/story-24518370-detail/story.html#ixzz3IxRvcSqt