After a long, grueling Pre Season, the first League Game is finally upon us... Lingers have gone through what can only be said as a progressive pre season, with plenty of talent on show, and new Management set up involving Robert 'Bobby' Clements, David 'Dixie' Dean, and Simon Horn poising themselves for the first competitive affair.
Lingers first took to the FA Cup last week on Friday; an Away trip to Crowborough Athletic who are currently ground sharing at Maidstone Utd's Gallagher Stadium. After a strongly contested game, and an extremely controversial first goal; Crowborough came out on top 2-0 who will embark in the SCFL Prem in the attempt for Promotion to the Ryman South. Despite our ambitions, winning the FA Cup wasn't one of them, so turned out to be a helpful, strong indicator about where the current squad is at.
To the first game of the Season and it's anticipation.
The waiting over, the first whistle of the campaign blown, and an extremely nervy, uncomfortable start for the Lingers conceding 2 early goals which inevitably set the tone for the day, not being able to string a consistent amount of possession or really test them defensively, a third goal was scored 5mins before halftime by Langney to put salt in the wounds of a calamity of a first half, 3-0 HT.
Hairdryer treatment at hand, and a nothing to lose attitude now, didn't really get through to the players as the 2nd half starts like the first 2 very quick fire goals by Langney due to some ill defending, 5-0 and the optimism of the day completely shattered. 2 late consolation goals from Ben Connolly and Rich Wetton finalised the first game, and a bitter one at that, not many positives, but plenty of lessons to be learned for the forthcoming year. By no means ideal start, but a hell of a lot of football to be played. 5-2 FT
Next week, Lingfield travel to Storrington to try to amend their areas of today and claim the first 3pts of the Season.
MoM to Jamie Bakhit
By Sam Clements