It’s the time of year when you need a back-up plan for your original destination thanks to the amount of rain that’s currently making it hard to plan. Here in Sussex we do have a fair few 3G pitches to count upon so I try not to head to those too early in the season.
Saturday was one of those occasions to call them into play. The original destination was Littlehampton vs Broadbridge Heath, an early kick off at 1pm due to the impending bonfire night in the town, subsequently cancelled during the afternoon thanks to the weather.
So, the choice came down to Lancing or Dorking, Newhaven just a step too far this time, and with plans to head into Surrey next weekend Lancing got the vote, a decent looking match on paper against league leaders Three Bridges
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Bridges are off to a fantastic start in the Isthmian League South East Division and whilst those around have seen games postponed due to cup progress they completely taken advantage and racked up the points, heading to Culver Road unbeaten.
With rain forecast during the afternoon but holding off for most of the opening half, the cover was required and with most games off locally a slightly inflated attendance were there to watch.
Bridges certainly dominated the ball in the first half without really causing Lancing too many problems, balls into the box were generally overhit or not missing the first man. The home side seemed fairly content to let the visitors have much of the play but ready to pick them off if the opportunity came and the opening goal went to the Lancers on 22 minutes.
A strong run from Lukas Franzen-Jones saw the striker slot home for a shock lead after a couple of rebounds landed nicely for the striker. With Bridges slightly shocked by the goal then conceded again eight minutes later Knory Scott wining the ball battle on the edge of the penalty area and he slotted past Jasper Sheikh on the half hour mark.
Bridges didn’t have time to recover from that blow when they went 3-0 down three minutes later, George Taggart wining the ball in midfield, striding forward and unleashing a shot from fully 20 yards out, really turning the form book on its head and a healthy half time lead for Lancing, a late Bridges effort well saved by Louis Rogers.
You felt that the visitors really needed to score early in the second half to have any way of plotting a route back into the game, but it felt like a lack of urgency from Bridges to get the ball forward and create enough chances, Lancing wrapping up the win with 15 minutes to play, skipper Alex Laing firing home after being teed up inside the box to complete a fantastic afternoon for Lancing and a first league defeat of the season for Bridges.
The visitors were a little underwhelming given the fact they had the majority of the possession across the 90 minutes, they did create a few chances but not enough consistently to worry Lancing and the home side picked their moments to strike.
Bridges remain top of the table with most sides below them a few games further back before they will make any inroads into their points total, however one defeat in the opening ten games is a brilliant return so far and no doubt they won’t be getting too down off the back of the loss.
Lancing’s Jekyll and Hyde season continues, the three points lifts them to within the same amount of points from the play-off spots despite having played a few games more than those around them, if they can find some consistency within their results and pull out performances like the weekend one then they could stay in and around the end of season mix.
