Steyning Town end difficult run with win over Deal Town… heartbreak for Wick

Sitting 19th, one place below their opponents, Steyning came into the fixture looking to halt a run of three consecutive defeats, most recently suffering a 2-0 loss away to Ashford United.

Despite showing resilience in the first halves of recent matches, second-half errors had proved costly, making a strong and disciplined performance vital as they looked to turn their fortunes around.

Deal started the brighter of the two sides, applying early pressure as Benjamin Chapman sent a header wide of the left post in the second minute. The visitors continued to threaten, with Thomas Chapman firing just over the cross bar in the seventh minute, as Deal looked the more dangerous side during the opening exchanges

Steyning attempted to respond in the 10th minute when Harvey Woollard cut the ball back to Alex Brewer, whose effort sailed over the bar, Play quickly switched to the other end, where Jack Penny sent an opportunity wide for Deal. The visitors continued to push for the opening goal, with Macauley Murray shooting over in the 13th minute, while Steyning initially struggled to establish possession.

Against the run of play, however, Steyning found the breakthrough. Jared Rance delivered a ball into the danger area which deflected off a Deal defender and found the back of the net, giving the hosts a 1–0 lead.

The goal appeared to settle Steyning, who began to show greater confidence going forward. They looked to extend their advantage with another delivery from the right, although Deal’s defence managed to clear the danger. The visitors threatened again in the 20th minute, but Thomas Chapman’s header was comfortably collected by Alfie Mansell.

Steyning responded two minutes later when Brewer found himself one-on-one with Deal goalkeeper Joseph Coleman, but his effort drifted wide. Rance continued to create opportunities for the hosts, with another promising ball stopped by Coleman as Steyning began to build momentum.

Their increased pressure paid off in the 31st minute. Steyning worked the ball around the Deal defence, with Woollard’s effort resulting in a corner. From the resulting set piece, Brewer rose to head home and double the hosts’ advantage to 2–0.

Woollard went in search of a third three minutes later, but his effort went wide. Steyning continued to threaten, and a free kick from Adam Adam from around 30 yards in the 37th minute forced another save from Coleman.

The closing stages brought an end-to-end spell, with Mansell making a save before Steyning attempted to turn defence into attack, only for Coleman to deny the hosts at the other end. Deal continued to look for a route back into the contest, but resolute defending from Steyning forced the visitors into a corner.

Steyning maintained possession during the final stages of the half and went into the interval with a 2–0 lead, having recovered from a difficult opening spell to take control of the contest.

Steyning started the second half looking to build on their advantage, dominating possession during the opening ten minutes and keeping Deal Town largely on the back foot.

Deal threatened in the 56th minute when a free kick from just outside the penalty area sailed over the crossbar. The visitors continued to show attacking intent moments later, coming out with renewed energy and sending another effort over the bar as they searched for way back into the contest.

Steyning responded by winning a free kick of their own in the 59th minute after Adam was fouled just outside the box. Deal’s Jack Paxman was shown a yellow card for the challenge, but Ryan Worral’s resulting delivery was comfortably dealt with by the Deal defence.

The game grew increasingly competitive as the half progressed, with Bright Kuntu-Blankson receiving a yellow card in the 63rd minute for a foul on a Deal attacker. The visitors were handed another opportunity from around 30 yards out, but Steyning goalkeeper Mansell was equal to the effort, punching the ball clear.

Deal began to find their feet as the half wore on, with Steyning no longer enjoying quite the same control of possession. Adam came close to adding a third in the 72nd minute, only for Deal defender Coleman to sweep the ball away from his feet and deny him the opportunity.

However, Steyning’s pressure eventually told in the 76th minute. Henry Yorke-Johnson capitalised after the Deal goalkeeper failed to hold the ball, reacting quickest to turn the loose ball home and extend Steyning’s lead to three.

With the result increasingly secure, Steyning turned their attention to protecting their clean sheet, defending resolutely as Deal pushed to find a late consolation. Instead, it was the hosts who struck again in the 84th minute. Substitute Elliott Hanslow made an immediate impact, confidently knocking the ball into the net after a beautifully delivered cross to make it 4-0.

Deal refused to give up their search for a goal and continued to press in the closing stages, but Mansell remained composed, comfortably keeping out another effort in the 90th minute. Steyning quickly turned defence into attack, sending the ball straight back down the other end as Hanslow looked to grab his second of the afternoon, only to see his shot drift narrowly wide of the left post.

The final whistle confirmed an emphatic 4-0 victory for Steyning, who combined clinical finishing with disciplined defending to see out the second half and secure a clean sheet. Despite Deal’s late efforts to find a breakthrough, Steyning remained firmly in control when it mattered, finishing the match with four goals and all three points.

Steyning visit Sittingbourne on Saturday and host AFC Croydon Athletic on Tuesday.

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LATE AGONY FOR WICK

Hassocks 3 Wick 2 – SCFL Premier

A case of mistake identity cost ten-man Wick three superb points in a devastating defeat at high-flying Hassocks.

The Dragons were in front through a superb 25th-minute strike from Ellis Collier when he was booked for a foul he didn’t commit and then given a second yellow card for protesting the decision.

Despite being reduced in numbers, the Dragons increased their lead before half-time thanks to a George Bingham penalty but despite defending courageously they eventually succumbed when Hassocks, third in the Southern Combination Premier standings, scored three times in the last 12 minutes.

“It was heartbreaking as to go against such a good side, put in such a brave, resilient performance and end up without anything to show for it,” said Wick manager Lee Baldwin. “It goes to show how far we have come and where we are at the moment.

“We went 1-0 up through an absolute wonderful strike from Ellis and had a clear gameplan which the boys executed excellently. We dug deep after the red card though and went in at half-time 2-0 up thanks to another superb penalty from George and in the second half we defended unbelievably.

"I felt we deserved something as a reward with Hassocks, as you would expect, dictating the play. They are a fantastic wide so to lose it right at the death was absolutely heart wrenching.

"They say the best sides always find a way to win and Hassocks did so I tip my hat to them while being so proud of my boys for showing how far we have come in the past few weeks and how we look such a different side.”

Wick’s next game is at home to second-placed Eastbourne United next Saturday (November 7) at 3pm.