Sharpe by name, sharp by nature: Antoine lifts Lancing to big win over Pagham

Manager Dale Hurley was proud of the Lancers performance, which he described as very efficient.The clean sheet particularly pleased him and it was no understatement for him to point out that, with a bit of luck, the goal tally could have been even higher.

The result demonstrated the progress Lancing have made since a shaky beginning to the season and they now occupy 14th place.

Lancing had a dream start, taking the lead with five minutes gone. Gabe Robinson used his pace to break clear down the right, hitting a fine low cross for Antoine Sharpe to run on to and strike against the upright. Sharpe by name, sharp by nature – he was quickest to react to the loose ball and squeeze it at across the line.

Mo Khedidji and Robinson were a constant threat to the Lions left, using their pace and close control. A tricky run by Khedidji saw him switch the ball to Robinson, who laid the ball across to Rob Deda, whose effort was narrowly high.

Deda then turned provider, winning the ball before a slide-rule pass put Khedidji into the box to finish coolly.

Sharpe was denied a clear run on goal when the referee decided to award Lancing a free-kick for a foul on Robinson, rather than allow adavantage.

The Lions were working hard to reduce the arrears .Alfie Davidson wriggled clear of Khedidji and floated in a cross that was met with a volley which cleared the bar. The Lions’ first shot on target came from Toby Hewitt but Elliot Dailly dealt with it.

The goal of the game came on 38 minutes .The ball reached Sharpe just outside the box. He allowed it to drop before volleying it out of reach of keeper Kelly and into the top corner.

The three-goal lead came close to being reduced shortly before half-time but Elliot Dailly pulled off an excellent save to preserve the three-goal margin.

Lancing inroduced Kaiden Hummerston at the restart for Deda. Lancing began where they left off with Robinson, Sharpe and Khedidji too hot for the Lions to handle and it took barely three minutes for Sharpe to sprint clear through the middle, with only the keeper to beat. A well-placed strike into the bottom corner gave the attacker his hat-trick.

Pagham threatened with a dangerous cross from the right which flew across the Lancing six-yard box but it eluded everyone.

Sharpe came close to a fourth when picked out by a sublime pass from Khedidji.He fired the ball with real venom but it rattled the underside of the bar before being cleared. This was his last meaningful action as he was given a well deserved break with Dylan Hurst coming on.

Some clever interplay between Billy McKay, Robinson and Khedidji culminated in a deep cross which proved just too high for Alek Amissah, on for Kai Birchley, to get his head to.

Robinson broke clear down the left, cut in on his right and forced a good save from Kelly.

With 71 minutes gone Lancing were in dreamland when Oliver Deda got his head to the ball at a corner to put his side five up.

Khedidji ,set up by fine pass from Ryan Plummer, executed a delicate chip which was well saved by keeper Kelly. McKay ,a real dynamo in Lancing’s midfield, made way for Dylan Walter.

The Lions were striving to salvage at least a consolation but were denied by another excellent save by Dailly and Lancing finished the stronger with a good strike from Archie McGonigle which Kelly held. In the closing minutes, a strong run from deep by Ryan Gummer saw him come close with a shot which grazed the bar.