One small step for Lingfield, one giant leap for Promotion!

The Lair not usable, therefore some quick, organised work from both teams in accordance with Steyning allowed us to play in a 5.30pm kickoff. A big thank you to all for coordinating the game to go ahead!

Coming in with 3 straight defeats, Wick walked into this with a must-win attitude. Not even a draw much good! We, on the other hand, have won our last 3 games. A known fact of recent that both sides are unbeaten in their respective home and away records this season in the league... Lingfield 9-1-0 (W-D-L) at home and Wick 5-5-0 Away. A full squad selection of availability on our side was a positive sign, and with a bench of Summers, Connolly, and Dembele, just showed our quality in depth.

Any edgy start to the game, both teams showing a bit of respect for their opponents. With no real chances being made within the opening 20 mins. Lingfield began to progress in the game, more possession spells with added pressure; Bakhit out on the right-hand side probably set the tone in terms of intent. Our first sighter came on the half hour as a corner from the right was met by Johnston, off the post and Wetton tapped home to be flagged offside. 5 minutes from the break we found a breach, Bakhit’s low cross was inch perfect to Ransome a few yards from goal. Poked home for 1-0. The half finished that way, Wick struggled to find any ideas. The first time we’ve been first to score in a game for over 6 league games

Lingfield took control of the 2nd half, more speed in intensity off the ball and better quality with it. Despite this, 1-0 was always going to be a dangerous scoreline. We gave ourselves a cushion on the hour, an attack down through the middle saw Wick’s defence not able to deal with, and Clements slotted into the bottom corner with ease. 2-0. The game became comfortable from this point, Wick started to go direct, and completely out of ideas meant Lingfield started to create chances at will. Nothing was punished in the last half hour until, in typical fashion, Wetton got himself 25 yards from goal. A quality strike into the top left-hand corner was unstoppable for Wick’s GK and put the icing on the cake for Lingfield. 3-0 FT.

An accomplished win! Finally broke the duck of conceding first in games; as well as maintaining a first clean sheet of 2018 and for some time now. 4 wins on the bounce now as we head into another home game against St. Francis next week. Up to 55 points now... 11 clear of Wick, and even with their game in hand, a big set back to their chances of going up. Our nearest rivals now are Ringmer, 7 points back, but we 2 games in hand on them. Common and Langney don’t seem to be slipping up as they both head towards a title race, and with our start to the season just not being good enough. It looks like a stretch too far for that. We’d like to thank all of the travelling support to Steyning for an evening kick-off; hugely appreciated.

Hope to see you all at the Lair next Saturday. Up the Lingers

MOM Jamie Bakhit

By Sammy Clements