Lancing on brink of relegation after Easter double despair

The Lancers’ 2-1 loss at relegation rivals AFC Varndeanians was followed by a 3-1 defeat to neighbouring Wick on Bank Holiday Monday. That, coupled with Varndeanians winning at Middle Road, sent Shoreham down with Lancers almost certain to follow.

Dale Hurley’s side are seven points from safety with three games left and now need a major mathematical miracle to avoid a second demotion in two seasons.

Defeat at Forest Row on Saturday would rubber stamp their relegation.

Speaking to club media after the Vs loss, Hurley said: “We weren’t good enough on Saturday. It wasn’t for a lack of effort, but I think the game in general was poor, two nervous teams in a relegation six pointer on an awful surface.

“Unfortunately an incredible header by their 10, and a very debatable yellow for their keeper, was the difference. We all need to stick together, now more than ever: players, coaches, staff, and fans. We still have four games to go and will keep battling until the last kick of the season.

“We came in when the club didn’t have a single win on the board in the league: six points off Vs, eight off Shoreham and four points off Lingfield. Now we’re four off Vs, three above Shoreham and six off Lingfield who still have to come to us, so we are still alive. We have four cup finals to try to keep our club in this league.”

In both games, Lancing paid the price for conceding an early goal each time. At Withdean, it was Marley Bigg who gave Vs an 11th minute lead when he followed up to score after Julian Durand had a shot parried out by Elliott Dailly.

Mo Khedidji had a shot blocked on the turn but the major talking point came at the midway point of the half, when ex-Lancing keeper Frazer Trigwell raced from his goal to thwart the run of Archie McGonigle. He scythed down the forward, but the presence of a covering defender seemingly saved the stopper, and a yellow card was shown.

From a corner, Lancing hauled themselves level ad Oli Deda escaped the attentions of his giant marker to head in at the back post.

But just as Lancing had profited from a set-piece, so another would prove their undoing. Owen Benfell whipped the ball in and it was met by surely the best header seen at this level all season. Kian Nandhra flexed his neck muscles with a bullet header from distance to leave Dailly with no chance.

Vs struck the stanchion twice through ex-Lancer Omar Bukleb and man of the moment Nandhra. Trigwell tipped over from Alex Laing and Scott Packer should have done better from close range.

Two days later, Lancing welcomed the Dragons of Wick to Culver Road for their penultimate home game of the season.

Lancing conceded early and never recovered. It was an uphill struggle from the moment Dan Simmonds capitalised on lax marking to slot Lee Baldwin’s mid-tablers in front.

Archie McGonigle swept in a leveller after Mo Khedidji’s cross was cleared to Oli Deda, who teed up the scorer after eight minutes.

Dan Simmonds volleyed wide while Harley Damario was thwarted by Keelan Belcher at the other end.

Wick went ahead again in the 23rd minute, profiting from more lax Lancing play. James Thurgar teed up the onrushing Ethan Roberts and he took a touch, cut inside and pick his spot to roll in.

Tyrese Mthunzi whipped the ball across goal and wide, before Damario went close.

There was no lack of Lancing effort but having conceded over 100 goals in a league season for the second year in a row, it is easy to see why Lancing find themselves in a lowly position.

Substitutes Szymon Kowalczyk and Eirinaos Keskinis linked up to force a save from Belcher before Roberts’ second – and Wick’s third – made the game safe.

Lancing face Forest Row at Three Bridges on Saturday.