FIRST VICTORY FOR THREE MONTHS LIFTS LINGFIELD AT LONG LAST

It was on December 14, 2013 that Dixie Dean’s men beat visitors Selsey 3-1 through goals by man of the match Harry Sintim, Joel O’Hara and debutant Richard Wetton. Throw in that never ending nightmare deluge that waterlogged the village club’s pitch seemingly incessantly and it had been a long time between celebratory drinks for the previously out of form Lingers.
O’Hara himself set the ball rolling by breaking the deadlock against rock bottom Worthing United after 23 minutes, finishing off a superb move involving Marco Mwanza and Sintim who supplied the telling cross, from opposite flanks, establishing a slender interval lead for the hosts.
Cometh the hour cometh the man, Sam Clements again who needed just eight minutes after replacing impressive midfielder Tom Gannon to tap home on the goal-line following man of the match O’Hara’s strong near post run and shot. Indeed, after 79 minutes Clements nearly repeated his feat, super sub seeing his 25-yard shot hit the crossbar and go over.
Then experienced striker Clinton Moore got in again on the scoring act at long last, setting the seal on success after 86 minutes, firing home from Clements’ left-wing cross before running to the dug-out to celebrate with delighted Dean.
Indeed, three minutes later Moore nearly did it again, his close range header from O’Hara’s cross from the left rebounding to safety off the crossbar to the relief of goalkeeper Daryl Ashworth.
Josh Hughes salvaged a first minute of stoppage-time consolation goal for the visitors, giving Scott Millar no chance, but nothing was going to ruin a rare Lingfield victory following their dramatic decline this season.
Debutant Dean Grice enjoyed a competent opening at centre-back and Tony Langridge’s welcome return to first team action also steadied a rocky ship which sailed into calmer waters.

Man of the match: Joel O’Hara.

By Davif Groves