Hollington boss: I’ve never struggled getting a squad together like I am now

The Lions travelled to Lindfield looking to make it three wins out of three and wtth still 10 players unavailable, matters were made even harder when Matt McLean was held up by being involved in a car crash - thankfully he is okay - and Anthony Storey didn't get to the game until 20 minutes in.

Ater a complete reshuffle which saw the visitors change to a 3-5-2 started the game on the back foot. The Lions struggled to get their rhythm going and a superb save from Elliot Stokes and a last ditch tackle from Dale Penn kept it goalless.

Hollington started to get into the game and the introduction of Storey made a difference as he started to control the game. And it was his free kick that found Jack Dixon at the far post to send a header into the near post. It very nearly become 2-0 when Brett Patton and Dixon combined only for Patton's shot to cannon back off the post.

The second half saw the Lions control possession and they said they should have had a man advantage after Jordan Harley was kicked in the face by a dangerous high foot, but the referee deemed it as a yellow.

The home side threw everything at the Lions but found the back four and Elliot Stokes in terrific form. The visitors had plenty of chances to kill the game off but held on to another 1-0 win to make it a perfect start.

MoM sponsored by Triton Roofing was Jack Dixon.

Price aid: “In 11 years of managing I’ve never struggled as I am now in getting a squad together. The squad literally changes daily and three or four I don’t know about until Saturday morning.

"It’s just a difficult time for a lot of people out there. So many are having to work, some just haven’t got that hunger back yet and a few are feeling the effects of last weekend's two games.

"It’s easy to say we have a big squad but when you’re missing the quality we are it’s going to affect us, and on top of that one had a crash on the way to the game so couldn’t get here and another turned up 20 minutes into the game.

"But the boys out there were superb, every single one of them put a proper shift in and won ugly. To play a team who can throw the ball miles and have five or six players over 6ft where we only had one and keep a clean sheet is a massive achievement.

"We won 90% of our aerial duels in our box and probably 99% of the second ball. Offensively we could have been a lot lot better but today was about heart, desire and know how and they showed plenty of that.

"Jack rightly got the MoM with his performance but a it would be wrong if I didn’t mention just how good Dale Penn, Andy Corrigan and Elliot Stokes were.

"Next week brings another very hard game at home to Balcombe and as for team news... I’ll know more about 11 o’clock Saturday!"

JC TACKLEWAY

The JC Tackleway FC welcomed Premier Division Crowhurst FC to the fortress last Saturday in the ESFL competition.

On 25 minutes Tackleway took the lead when Joe Adams found space on the right wing to put in a tempting cross which Nathan Tutt rose to meet with a looping header which nestled in the Crows goal to put Tackleway 1-0 up.

Tackleway began to control the game but on 35 minutes a counter attack from Crowhurst led to Ash Kidman sliding in the equaliser despite a suspicion of offside.

In the second half Tackleway pressed for the winner but some magnificent saves by Perry Salmons in the Crows goal kept the sides level and an entertaining game ended 1-1.

JCT: Caister, Robinson, S Benton, Bone, Adams, D Payne, Olorenshaw, Eaton, Fisher, Tutt, T Payne. Subs used: Hull, G Benton, Njie.