Lancers exit cup on penalties to Newhaven

LANCING Football Club bowed out of the Peter Bentley Cup on penalties after a thrilling 2-2 draw with Newhaven on Tuesday.
Richard WhittingtonRichard Whittington
Richard Whittington

An Owen Callaghan double looked to have put Lancers within reach of a place in the semi-finals but a late Adam Kneller free kick took the game to extra-time, and, eventually, the drama of a spot-kick shoot-out.

The home side were without strikers Lewis Finney and Alex Fair, through injury and ineligibility respectively, but they still went ahead within 40 seconds. Jack Phillips hit a high ball forward and it dropped for Callaghan, who netted from three yards.

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Lancing keeper Darren Ford denied Callum Connor an equaliser five minutes later, before Newhaven did level on 25 minutes. Lee Robinson crossed for Connor to slide the ball home from close range.

Lancers went back ahead five minutes before half-time when Mike Williamson’s superb individual run was halted by Ryan Knight in the penalty area and Callaghan scored from the spot.

Newhaven carved out two excellent chances at the start of the second half. Connor fired over the bar from Robinson’s cross, before set-piece specialist Kneller saw a free kick tipped on to the bar.

The visitors levelled through Kneller’s free kick seven minutes from time, before, after no further score in extra-time, Newhaven reached the semi-finals with a 3-2 victory on penalties.

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Lancers boss Richard Whittington said: “I’m proud of my players tonight, they gave it everything and it’s a cruel way to bow out, we are all gutted.”

LANCING: Ford; Fenton, Phillips, Sharman, Hendy; Davis, Adams; Robertshaw, Rouane, Williamson; Callaghan. Subs: Mills (Robertshaw 62), Munday (Rouane 77), Spinks (Davis 89), Foster, Fidler.