Lingers back to winning ways with 6 of the best versus Mile Oak

With some atrocious weather across the country, the Lair wasn't fit for purpose on Saturday and as such, the game was held at Shooting Field - the home of Steyning Town FC. Firstly, I just want to say a big thank you to both Lingfield officials and Steyning for organising this, it is important to get games played so we can build some momentum as we reach the final stretch of fixtures and there are no better facilities in the league to be able to utilise. Both teams were missing key players; for us, both David Graves (club captain) and Rich Wetton (leading goalscorer) remained suspended whilst Mile Oak were without the Benn brothers who are vital to them although they did welcome new signing Andy McDowell into the starting line-up.

The game quickly settled and it was evident that Oak were looking to sit back and were happy for us to have possession in central areas. The first goal came slightly against the run of play with some great work down the left and a skilful finish from McDowell as he back-heeled the ball into the bottom right-hand corner leaving Olly no chance, 1-0 Oak. The game continued in the same fashion with Lingfield controlling the game in midfield as Oak opted for a 4-4-2 leaving them outnumbered. The Lingers came very close to equalising through Clements who swivelled and crashed a shot into the post with Stenning beaten in the Oak net.

Oak did not respond to the warning signs and Clements managed to level for the Lingers as he was the first to react on the edge of the box and he strode into the box and smashed the ball into the roof of the net, 1-1. And it wasn't long before the score was turned on its head as Wilf crossed for Dembele who saw his initial effort blocked but managed to score the follow-up with his head, a collector's item for sure.

HT, 2-1 to Lingfield.

Oak had to shuffle a few things around after picking up an injury or 2 in the first half, however, they struggled to stem the tide in the second period. Dan Summers came off the bench to replace the industrious Chris Ransome, after his first start of the season, and it was only a matter of minutes before Summers made a difference cutting in from the left and finding the top corner albeit via a slight ricochet off the Oak defender. Oak began to become desperate and brought on a target man and decided to go more direct to try and get them up the pitch but this was to no avail.

With further fresh legs off the bench through Connelly and Richards against a tiring Oak outfit, there were chances galore to wrap the game up. The Lingers managed to add 3 goals to their tally after some clinical finishing - Connelly x2 and Dembele, 6-1. The whistle was a welcome relief for Oak who were down to their bare bones and had been chasing shadows for large parts. A very satisfying win for the Lingers and another superb performance on the 4G pitch at Steyning, a surface which definitely suits our style. Our unbeaten home record continues and we move into 3rd with a game in hand on the top 2.Next up is Seaford Town away as we look to put together a winning run to continue the promotion push.

Thanks all, up the Lingers!

MOM Sammy Clements

By David Heaton