Lingfield knock Mile Oak for 4 in Grudge Match

In the penultimate fixture, Lingfield left Mile Oak with nothing but a sour taste in the mouth after what was a heated affair. So more than just the 3pts to play for in the return fixture and certainly something owed and to prove...

The game started very quick and Lingfield set the standard from the off with a very high press, and making full use of the new current 3-5-2 formation as soon as the 2nd minute as Sam Bell pressurised the goalkeeper to block a clearance and rebound into the net, 1-0. Lingfield not ready to take their foot of the pedal, set out to continue to press high and force mistakes; was nothing that Mile Oak could really do, and in the 11th minute, Jamie Bakhit latched onto a Matt Burroughs high through ball to get 1 on 1 with the GK, and round him to be brought down in the box; dispatched calmly by skipper David Heaton, 2-0 and his 7th of the season. A few more chances for Lingfield's way due to some aggressive pressing from the front not to be fully punished. Last 15 mins of the first half, and Mile Oak began to get more into the game, carving out chances, and Lingfield eventually got what seemed to be coming as Joe Benn scored a quality left-footed strike just fore half time to get his side back in the game.

HT 2-1

Mile Oak were always due to come out in the 2nd half with heir tails up, and was evident after immediate pressure paid off as Enzo Benn levelled things up within a minute of the 2nd half starting with a cultured finish to the left hand corner, nothing Olly Moore could've done about either goal, 2-2. Probably the wake up call Lingfield needed to get back into gear, and a finessed through ball from Jamie Bakhit sent Sam Bell 1 on 1 with the oncoming GK in the 50th minute, only one result, 3-2 Lingfield. The game opened up more and more, and with some real committed and brace defending keeping Mile Oak at bay, Lingfield were able to restore their 2 goal advantage in the 75th minute as a deep free kick from Olly Moore was initially missed by all, to fall through to Sam Bell anticipating to easily round the GK, and completing his Hat-Trick, and his tally now to 26 in all comps. With 15 minutes to go, it became a little bit back to wall defending without really being tested by Mile Oak to see out a convincing 4-2 win in the end, FT.

A game played very much in spells for either side, but Lingfield having more of them and making the most of it, MoM to David Heaton in what was a skipper's performance and led by example in the middle of the park, and chipping in with his goal; maybe disputable after Bell's Hat-Trick still not good enough for star man.

Lingers XI: O Moore, D Dean, C Dodds, M McEvilly, M Burroughs, J Bakhit, D Heaton, J Horn, T Stead, S Clements, S Bell

SUBS: S Thompson, C Leech, C Naylor, B Connolly, G Gomez

So a 3rd consecutive win for Dixie and management team, and this probably the best of the lot in what turned out to be a bit of a grudge match, Lingfield next host Southwick at the Lair in which we try to continue this run and use momentum to try and gain as much ground as possible on the teams above.

Report: Sammy Clements