Lancers get off to a strong start

After a tight first-half, the teams were level at 0-0 at the break, before a dramatic second 45 minutes saw Lancers first trail 2-0, lead 3-2, before being pegged back by a late equaliser.

The result means Lancers have taken four points from their first two games back in County League Division 1, after a comfortable 4-2 home win over Crowborough on Saturday.

Gander said: “It was one of the best games of football at Culver Road I have ever seen, without doubt.

“It was a fast, quick game with good movement and good play. In the first half we were both testing each other out before going for it in the second half – it was a fantastic game to be involved in.”

Goals from Peacehaven’s Ryan Bradley and Craig Bunch had put them 2-0 ahead, before Lancing subsitutue Darren Boswell, with his first touch, swept in a Titus Paterson cross after good work from Darren Annis on 68 minutes.

Paterson netted the second from Annis’ pass on 75 minutes, before heading home his second at the back post to put Lancers ahead three minutes later. But Adam Neller’s 30-yarder grabbed Peacehaven a point with five minutes left.

On Saturday, in their first match in the top flight of the County League for 10 years it was all very routine for Lancers.

Dan McLaughlin and Annis gave the home side the perfect start with a first-half strike each, before Crows’ Kevin Everest hit back two minutes into the second half.

Paterson then netted a fantastic goal from the edge of the area to restore the two-goal lead on 52 minutes, before Harry Constable put the ball into his own net.

But Annis was then on hand to crash home his second to ensure Lancers’ victory on 71 minutes.

LANCING v Peacehaven: Banasco-Zaragoza; Denyer, Neal, Elliot, O’Regan; McLaughlin, Joseph, Sims; Annis, Martin, Paterson. Subs: Boswell (Sims 60), Hayward, McCleod, Pickford, Evans.

v Crowborough: Banasco-Zaragoza, Denyer, Constable, Elliot, O’Regan, McLaughlin, Joseph, Sims, Annis, Martin, Paterson. Subs: Hayward (Sims 80), McCleod (Martin 75), Pickford, Wilds, Bainbridge.