Nicky Forster hits hat-trick to earn Lingfield opening day triumph

HAT-TRICK hero Nicky Forster underlined little Lingfield’s title ambitions as their tenacious ten men triumphed on opening day at the Beaconsfield on Saturday.

Former professional striker Forster lit the blue touchpaper for the Godstone Road club’s potentially exciting season.
Manager Dixie Dean remains determined to build significantly on the village club’s prospects, having finished a best ever sixth-placed last season.

But they did it the hard way, being forced to play for the remaining 70 minutes a man short following young defender Conor Boon’s sending off for a professional foul, being ruled to have fouled Hailsham Town’s nippy striker Pat Johnson just outside the penalty area.

This was an even more remarkable incident as referee Adrian Harris (Selsey) initially showed the red card to an understandably startled other Lingfield defender, the ever influential Dean Hamlin, before admitting his error following a heated debate and showing the decisive red card to Boon.

Lingfield eventually overcame adversity by breaking the deadlock after 40 minutes when newcomer Marco Mwanza’s through ball from left midfield picked out Forster who showed his predatory instincts by latching on and firing wide of goalkeeper Sheldon Levitt at the near post.

Cue the inevitable home onslaught in the second half with The Stringers, under new management, doing everything but blow Lingfield’s house down, seeking to capitalise on their numerical superiority.

However, this Lingfield lot are made of stern stuff and, being indebted to a string of fine saves from towering Rob O’Hara, the visitors sealed success effectively after 88 minutes as substitute Dominic Lugard crossed from the right for Forster to power a looping header home, giving Levitt no chance again.

Substitute Steve Dallaway set up an exciting finish, reducing the arrears in the fourth added minute, shooting home a 25 yard deflected shot, leaving O’Hara helpless at the near post.

But Forster had the final word as well when he completed his treble with the final kick of the game in the fifth additional minute, rifling home at the far post, rewarding some surging approach work down the right by Conor Boon’s twin brother Kieran to set him up perfectly for the finishing flourish, silencing any lingering Lingfield nerves.

Lingfield: Rob O’Hara, Kieran Boon, Marco Mwanza (Ben Alecsander 45 mins; Dominic Lugard 60 mins), Dean Hamlin, Jay Kalama, Conor Boon, La’Maur Gay, Daryl Coleman (capt), Nicky Forster, Glenn Boosey (Adrian Butler 72 mins), Jamie Lawrence. Unused subs: Dan Burnett, Danny Oakins.