WHITTINGTON IN SANTA JOB

His two clangers gifted Lancing the goals with which they ended Oak's eight-match unbeaten league run following their midweek draw at Wick.

Oak, a non-entity for the first half-hour, scored then had half a dozen openings to equalise but, apart from bringing a stunning double save by Phil Reid, they failed.

Culver Road must be an unlucky ground for lanky Whittington, whose physical reactions often look so lethargic. Oak supporters' heads were in their hands while the eyes of Lancing ones lit up like children's on hearing the jingling of Santa's sleigh bells.

Lancing's midfield general Graham Martin, his probings already underway, sent his terrier Dean MacDonald to the byeline. His screwback went benignly towards Whittington's near post but the keeper reached down late, deflected it onto the upright and John Rhodie was there when the rebound dribbled along the goalline.

Rhodie then headed a quality Martin corner kick inches too high before, on 27 minutes, Martin delivered a free kick awarded for an Ivan Mainprize obstruction on the right.

It was Whittington's easy catch but, unopposed, he spilled it and Adam Burton's 15th goal for Lancing this season was a grateful tap-in.

On balance, few would have begrudged Lancers their lead. Six minutes later it was 2-1. After a free kick, Mark Curram's drive was blocked but Jamie Ash served up the loose ball for Paul Eaton to thunder past Reid and in off his right-hand post.

Once bitten, captain Nick Martin allowed Burton no change until the dying moments when a long MacDonald hack clear freed the Lancing forward at inside-left.

Seeing his keeper advancing, Martin, unable to prevent a one-on-one, dashed to guard the empty net.

Predictably, Whittington brought Burton down and Martin's positioning saved him the red card that would have completed Whittington's day. Graham Martin sent the free kick over the bar.

That was a rare flash of Lancing penetration in a second half of shared honours. Without the unwell Wesley Lopez, they were always in the game but Oak's hunt for parity ended in lost chances for Eaton and Wayne Whittington, three apiece. The size of their task was indicated early on when Reid blocked at Whittington's feet, then got up and tipped over the bar Eaton's drive with the loose ball.

"We deserved nothing today," said Oak boss Anthony Whittington.

He was unable to start striker Scott Carden, who failed a midweek fitness test on a hamstring, and Lee Silsby was his only other first-choice missing.

"We felt a bit sorry for ourselves after the two mistakes and we were not big enough to rise above it. In the end we could even have won, but we would not have deserved it."

Skipper Nick Martin leapt to keeper Richard Whittington's defence: "He's held his hand up but he's been good so far this season and he'll be good for the rest of it.

"Hopefully we can regroup and push on for the rest of the season."

LANCING: Reid; Mtambara, Reilly, Bailey, Etteridge; Dixon, G.Martin, MacDonald, Rhodie; Levy, Burton. Subs: Lester (Levy inj 17), Thompson (Bailey 45), Willis (Lester 87).

MILE OAK: R.Whittington; Porter, N.Martin, Keen, Mainprize; J.Ash, Read, Jackson, Curram; Whitton, Eaton. Subs: Carden (Whitton 68), W.Whittington (Keen 73), Harman (Curram 77), A.Whittington. Att: 52. Lancing host Shoreham and Oak entertain St Francis on Monday (both 11am).