Lancing v Peacehaven

Adam Kneller's spectacular late equaliser saved a point from a match which had seemed to be firmly in Peacehaven's grasp until a dramatic defensive collapse saw them staring down the barrel of a damaging defeat.

It was a match which will have delighted spectators, but will have left Peacehaven's management with serious questions.

Peacehaven showed great character to come back from the brink, and with a bit more luck could well have claimed all three points. There will though be serious concern at the way their defence gave way in the second half once Lancing started to put them under pressure.

Pete Edwards named an unchanged line up, with Ashley Rees back on the bench and the first half offered little hint of what was to come. There was little pattern to the play, with the ball going forward early far too often.

The only clear chance fell to Darren Annis for the home side, but he failed to seriously trouble Jake Buss.

Pete Edwards gambled virtually from the start of the second half, throwing on Rees alongside Craig Bunch and Ryan Bradley. Initially it appeared that his gamble had paid off, as Peacehaven raced into a two goal lead.

Rees was instrumental in both goals. The first came when he burst through the home defence and teed up Bradley, who, at the second attempt, rammed the ball home, and the lead was doubled when he linked up with Carl Dunk to set up a simple chance for Bunch, who finished calmly.

The introduction of the pacy Darren Boswell changed the match dramatically. He began to torment Connor Saunders on the right and that spread panic through the visiting defence. He then pulled a goal back after linking up with Titus Patterson, and when Patterson curled in an equaliser there was a sense of disbelief on the ‘haven players faces.

Things got worse when Patterson headed Lancing into an improbable lead, and Peacehaven were looking desperately ragged.

They rallied however and were celebrating again when Kneller smashed in a fierce shot from outside the box. From then on it was anyone’s match, but surprisingly there were no more goals and everyone had the chance to calm down.