All of the games of late are following a similar pattern in so many ways: rock-hard pitches, windy conditions, scrappy football, and us letting slip a winning position.

Going into this one, I’d reconsidered the Worthing game and decided it was a point gained, as they are up there with us, and the conditions played a part in each side dominating a half each. Still, the result had left matters with us, and though I didn’t expect this to be easy, I felt that this match experience would help us here.

We started a little slowly, and Storrington had the first chances but didn’t make the most of them. We gradually settled down. Neither side was playing particularly well, with the unfavourable conditions making it difficult for us in the first half to successfully complete any forward passes, as the ball usually rolled aimlessly towards the host's goalkeeper or out for a goal kick. In fact, it was set plays that looked the most likely way for us, with a number of corners causing problems but without reward.

Just before the break, we got the ball under control on the edge of Storrington's area and found a bit of space to complete a couple of passes with Asher coolly finishing the move to give us a fortunate lead at the break. We spoke about the conditions and the importance of the next goal, recognising that Storrington remained a threat with their forward play.

Overall, I was really happy with the first half an hour or so, as we had better control and had scored a really well-worked second goal through Bailey Ellis, and I didn’t feel we were in any real danger of conceding. A number of necessary changes that were made disrupted us a bit, but with the 2 goal lead intact as we approached 86 minutes, albeit we knew there was a significant amount of stoppage time to be added, we really should have been able to see this through.

An unnecessary free kick offered them a goal back, and whilst we weren’t clever in the concession of the kick itself, our defending afterwards was poor. That single moment seemed to unsettle us, and now we were all literally at sea, hanging on. Storrington equalised on 92 minutes, and with a further 8 to play for the second game running, if there was to be a winner, it wasn’t coming from us.

This was tough to take, and with matters out of our hands, we are undoing all of the tremendous work that we have recently put in, with our lack of game management having been our weakness. It’s a quick turnaround with a Monday morning kick-off against Banstead, where only a win will keep us in with a chance, as I can't see other sides slipping up as we have in the last 2.

Glynn Stephens
First Team Manager