Rubbed Saltdean The Wound

Lingfield FC made the trip to the south coast to play Saltdean on a crisp winters day. Hill Park is hidden down a small dirt track with rolling hills as a backdrop. Although in a picturesque setting the condition of the pitch did not live up to the surroundings with what can only be described as a quagmire in each penalty area.

Even before the first ball was kicked the pitch was cutting up as the teams warmed up in the wide areas. It was obvious that both teams would find it difficult to play an expansive passing game given the condition of the pitch. Lingfield began the game kicking towards the unassuming clubhouse. As expected both teams struggled to establish any fluency to their passing and the first 15 minutes was a scrappy affair with very few clear-cut chances.

Saltdean broke the deadlock on 16 minutes when a speculative ball over the Lingfield right-back was controlled and finished superbly by Josh Jones. This moment of class was the difference in a very even match.
Saltdean FC 1-0 Lingfield FC.

Lingfield’s man of the match, Marc McEvilly, started in midfield for the first time this season due to injuries in the middle of the park, and was at the centre of the action as the battle continued. Both teams created chances. Saltdean had a close range free-kick superbly blocked by Stephen Thompson as he threw himself at the ball as it travelled goal-bound. Lingfield created enough chances to equalise as they tried to utilise the little greenery there was in the wide areas of the pitch. At 1-0, Sam Bell slid in and somehow sent the ball over from 2 yards as a blocked shot from TJ Stead fell to him at the back post. Also, at 1-0 one of the saves of the century came from the Saltdean goalkeeper as Matthew Burroughs squared a ball from the left to Rory Woolston within the 6-yard box and from point blank range the goalkeeper reacted with a firm hand to push a well hit strike away from the danger area.

At 1-0 Saltdean should have been down to nine men. As the last man, the Saltdean captain, already on a yellow card, scythed down David Heaton as he was through on goal. The referee gave a foul, however, made the unfathomable decision to keep his cards in his pocket. In another incident, a trivial foul was conceded in the Saltdean half by Rory Woolston on Wesley Millis. Millis, who had been given multiple ‘last chances’ by the referee for bad challenges, slapped the Lingfield player in the face as he jumped to his feet. This incident was witnessed by the referee, who decided to show both players a yellow card. A pivotal decision in the game and one the Lingfield FC players and fans could not believe.

As half-time approached a misplaced pass into midfield fell to Ashley Rees, and he drove into the area and emphatically fired home from 12 yards.
Saltdean FC 2-0 Lingfield FC.

Half Time Saltdean FC 2-0 Lingfield FC
Lingfield FC came out after the break having taken the time to try and compose themselves after the calamitous refereeing in what was otherwise a good hard fought game in the first half.

The second half continued in the same fashion as the first with some strong challenges coming in from both sides in a well contested game. Lingfield pressed on to get back into the game. In the 55th minute David Heaton sent a high cross into the Saltdean penalty area. The ball was missed by two challenging players and Stephen Thompson acrobatically dispatched the bouncing ball with an overhead kick from 12 yards. The goalkeeper had no chance. It was a sublime finish that could have easily challenged Giroud for goal of the season.

Lingfield FC continued to push for an equaliser and looked the stronger of the two sides. Multiple chances were created and Lingfield spurned some great opportunities.

In the 80th minute Rory Woolston mistimed a challenge on the edge of the Saltdean penalty area and received a second yellow card resulting in his dismissal. In a game that should have seen Saltdean down to nine men in the first half, saw Lingfield down to ten and chasing the game.

The 10-man Lingfield struggled to break down the Saltdean defence. As Lingfield searched for an equiliser Saltdean exploited the gaps at the back in injury time and Millis, who should not have still been on the field of play, scored a third before Saltdean added a fourth through Josh Jones to rub salt in the wound.

Saltdean FC battled well on the day in a game heavily influenced by some questionable refereeing decisions. Congratulations to Saltdean with a result that takes them to the top of the league, and all the best for the season.

Man of the match: Marc McEvilly

Report by: Stephen Thompson