THE LINGERS’ UNBEATEN RUN CONTINUES

Peter Buckland’s visitors arrived on a high following their 9-0 league thrashing of basement boys Hailsham Town, but surrendered their own undefeated league record in spite of enjoying most of the play and chances. This was a typical After The Lord Mayor’s Show result, although, to be fair, YMCA deserved much better with boss Buckland having claimed on arrival that he and many of his team were suffering from flu.

In any case, only a string of superb saves by giant goalkeeper Rob O’Hara stood between the rampant side and three more precious points, although Lingers’ number one was forced off following a shoulder injury deep in stoppage-time, being replaced for the remaining minutes by manager Dixie Dean’s son Dave Dean.

Lingers broke the deadlock after only six minutes, capitalising on their lively opening as Nick Forster burst through on goal, forcing goalkeeper Sam Smith to parry his shot only for defender Dan Evans to inadvertently net an own goal at the far post.

Harry Sintim made it 2-0 to the hosts in first-half stoppage-time, firing home from 25 yards inside the far post, giving Smith no chance after captain Gareth Graham’s deep free-kick had broken to him.

The entertaining visitors reduced the arrears on 51 minutes when Matt Crane’s shot from just inside the penalty area was deflected in following Dan Sullivan’s right-wing corner.

Yet Lingers were not to be denied another hard earned success which was sealed after 76 minutes when Graham’s deep free-kick from the left, which had been won by Sintim, went straight into the net beyond Smith.

Plucky YMCA finished strongly, continuing to bring the best out of O’Hara, but eventually the visitors were unable to beat last-gasp stand-in substitute keeper Dean, leaving Buckland an understandably frustrated and somewhat bewildered figure as he lectured his team on the pitch immediately afterwards.

By David Groves.