No Celebratory Fireworks for The Lingers

The Lingers set out with a strong solid disciplined 4-4-2 formation looking to bounce back from last week’s performance, the game kicked off with The Lingers controlling the game stringing a set of slick passes while keeping possession well for the opening minutes of the half ..…… the right pass found right winger Matthew Burroughs just inside his own half for him to spray the ball out wide to inform striker Sam Bell which allowed Bell the change to have a 1 on 1 footrace with the East Preston right back who failed to deal with the pace of Sam Bell.

Sam Bell with a great charge of pace left the defender like he wasn't there ! hitting the by line he flashed the ball across the box past the diving keeper to the oncoming Matthew Burroughs who ran from in his own half to have his shot 6 yards out saved off the line by the East Preston defender seeing The Lingers chance being squandered, the possession was still alive with TJ steed who plays a square ball inside the East Preston box for David Heaton shot to be blocked by yet other defender other chance goes begging !

After 10minutes East Preston find a bit of rhythm picking their key men out wide but Lingfield remain disciplined and keep their shape however 1 lack pass from The Lingers defence gives East Preston who are pressing a high line found an easy 5 yard pass to unmarked East Preston CM who dance through 6 players before ending up on the edge of Lingfield’s box to fire Low into the corner of the net to make it 1-0 East Preston.

The Lingers still had a grip of the game and was far the better side shifting the ball across the pitch using the channels looking to get it up there to their front men continually knocking at the door of East Preston who deal with the pressure with giving away a corner.
The Lingers corner was taken quickly and short by David Heaton to the waiting Matthew Burroughs who receives the ball and with and great skill he beats his man with the drops of the shoulder and delivered a pin point cross for captain Charlie Dodd to powerfully head home his second for the season making it 1-1! 20 minutes gone Lingfield still looking the stronger going forward getting the ball out wide to yet creating another chance making the East Preston keeper make an important save from a great improvised volley from Sam Bell from the edge of the East Preston box.

East Preston soon gained composure and started to play with a pressing high trying to take a bit of pressure of their back four with 5mins remaining of the 1st half The Lingers find them self in a bit of bother with the young Marc McEvilly smashing the ball against the East Preston striker from a short throw-in leaving him 1 on 1 with the rushing out Tony Jenner East Preston Striker skips round the keeper leaving the goal gapping but Marc recovered well getting back to clear the ball off the line The Lingers were once again on the back foot for the remaining couple of minutes of the half and only need to remain focused and composed to take the 1-1 score line in to half time .

The Lingers having to deal with an East Preston corner in swinging cross fired in to a crowded box The Lingers scrambled the ball clear only for it drop to East Preston player to fire across the box for an easy tap in 2-1.

HT

Stern words from the Lingers Boss got his team going with no subs being used, the second half got under way with The Lingers looking for another quick reply to the 2-1 deficit creating few more chances than East Preston, East Preston started to break the game down and used their pace down the wings to good use getting forward, the long ball broke over the top and it was for captain Charlie Dodd to deal with in his normal calm manner while dealing with the situation he found himself sandwiched between the rushing out Tony Jenner keeper and the East Preston leaving Charlie Dodd floored and in a great deal of pain with the visitors still on the attack an unaware of the extent of his injury, this would be the last action that Charlie would see today.

The Boss was forced to make the change bringing on energetic Mark Barnard rejigging the shape of the team putting Matthew Gates centre half taking the arm band for rest of the game.

Play resumed with the Lingers pushing for their second with David Heaton picking up the ball in the centre of the pitch and with great vision finds wide man TJ Steed but yet again East Preston keeper makes a great save from a good strike which everyone thought it was going to be the equalizer.

East Preston upped their tempo using their key men out wide who started to cause problems darting down the flanks only to make a perfect pass to their lone forward to fire home from close range 3-1 East Preston.

The Lingers now had a mountain to climb bringing on now fit Brett Craig after replacing Nathan Hull in the 70th minute with 20 mins to go The Lingers threw everything forward in good faith they can still get something out of the game only to get caught yet again on the counter with a long ball from the East Preston back line to their wide man to cut in side and whipped in an awkward ball for Tony Jenner to handle only for it to fall at the feet of an East Preston player to make yet another chance for his team to curl the ball from just outside The Lingfield box into the corner of the net to make it 4-1.

East Preston with 10 mins to go the Lingfield boss made his last change of the late afternoon bringing on Kieren Curtis replacing Matthew Burroughs’s the Lingfield players were left feeling frustrated as their changes were squandered however took the game by the scruff of the neck with minutes to go they still fought to the end throwing body’s forward only to find that East Preston had parked the bus to see out the remanding minutes defending deep.
FT 4 1 Lingfield drop to 7th after a bad run of luck, The Lingers will be hoping to make a big statement after these last 2 weeks and bank all 3 points at home to Selsey Fc.

MOM TJ STEED

Match Report By Kieren Curtis

Lingfield Vs East Preston Highlights