Billingshurst were within touching distance of a welcome three points before an equaliser deep into stoppage time earned Lingfield a share of the spoils on a cold October evening at Jubilee Fields.

Goals from Tosin Dada and Jack Sizzy-Carter had given the hosts a two-goal interval lead, but Lingfield pulled one back through Kristian Britland before Aiden struck late to complete the comeback.

It was a frustrating finish for the Hurst, who began the evening in 17th place in the SCFL Premier and had chances to put the game beyond their sixth-placed visitors.

Lingfield made the brighter start. Kwesi Ntim tested Ollie Courtney, although the home goalkeeper dealt comfortably with his effort. The visitors then suffered an early setback when goalkeeper Chisholm was forced off through injury.

James Bendell went on a great run that earned a penalty for Billingshurst v Lingfield | Picture by Iain Gibson

placeholder image — James Bendell went on a great run that earned a penalty for Billingshurst v Lingfield | Picture by Iain Gibson

The Lingers continued to threaten without finding a way through a stubborn home defence. Billingshurst took their chance after 35 minutes, Morgan Prill releasing Dada to fire past the keeper and open the scoring.

An avoidable corner offered Lingfield an opportunity to respond, but Courtney claimed the delivery cleanly.

Worse followed for the visitors shortly before half-time. James Bendell beat his man and drove into the penalty area, where he was brought down. Sizzy-Carter converted the resulting penalty to send Billingshurst into the break 2–0 ahead.

Lingfield returned with renewed purpose, pushing the hosts back as they searched for a foothold in the match. Courtney made another good save around the hour mark, before Prill had a chance at the other end but sent his effort over.

The breakthrough came in the 70th minute. Gabriel picked out Britland with an excellent pass, and he finished past Courtney to reduce the deficit and give the visitors 20 minutes to salvage something.

By now the pitch was cutting up and the temperature was dropping, but there was plenty left in the contest. Challenges flew in as Lingfield pressed for an equaliser and Billingshurst looked for the goal that would settle matters.

The hosts had opportunities to restore their two-goal advantage. Substitute Albert Gooda saw his shot saved, with Jack French firing the loose ball over the bar. It was a chance Billingshurst would come to regret.

Eight minutes of added time gave Lingfield renewed hope, and the visitors made them count. Aiden found space and tucked his finish into the bottom corner, leaving the Hurst with little time to respond.

For Billingshurst, it felt like two points lost after so much hard work. For Lingfield, persistence brought its reward on an evening when they had looked in danger of coming away empty-handed.

The draw moves Lingfield up to fifth, while Billingshurst climb to 16th.

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