Steyning Town beat Lancing FC in exciting “Battle of the Bostal” to secure 3 points.
Match report by student Lauren Hawker. Thanks Lauren.
Steyning Town welcomed Lancing FC in a keenly anticipated clash, just days after their 2-1 victory over Hendon in the preliminary stages of the FA Cup, where Harry Heath struck late to seal 3 points. With the sides yet to meet in the Cup later this month, this encounter offered an early taste of what promises to be a fascinating rivalry.
The match started at a frantic pace, with Lancing shown a yellow card inside the opening minute after a scrappy exchange between players gifted Steyning an early free kick just outside the box. The set piece, however, was comfortably cleared by the visitors.
Lancing struck first on 10 minutes when Steyning were penalised for a handball inside the area. The resulting penalty was calmly tucked away to the right-hand side, giving the away side a 0–1 lead. Things got worse for the hosts just four minutes later, as Lancing’s Zackaria Rhioui produced a composed finish into the same corner to double their advantage.
Despite the early setback, Steyning looked determined to respond. In the 17th and 18th minutes they carved out two promising opportunities, only to see both chances go begging. Their persistence eventually paid off in the 26th minute, when Stanley Bridgman fired a powerful strike from just inside the box into the bottom-left corner to make it 1–2 and reignite the home crowd.
The momentum was now with Steyning, and just before the break they almost found an equaliser. A free kick was awarded in the 43rd minute after a heavy Lancing challenge, but the effort was somehow scrambled off the line by a Lancing defender.
The half ended with the visitors narrowly ahead, setting up an intriguing second period.
The second half began with Lancing quickly reasserting themselves, and in the 52nd minute they restored their two-goal cushion. A clean strike driven low into the bottom-left corner made it 1–3, underlining the visitors’ attacking intent. The game remained fiercely physical, with Steyning earning a free kick in the 57th minute, though the delivery was comfortably dealt with by the Lancing goalkeeper Jordan Brown.
Steyning refused to back down, and on the hour mark captain Dion Jarvis pulled his side back into contention with a superb finish to make it 2–3. Jarvis was at the heart of the comeback, and in the 73rd minute he rose highest to meet a free-kick, powering a header into the net to level the scores at 3–3.
With momentum firmly behind the home side, Lancing began to look increasingly unsettled. Their goalkeeper was booked for time wasting, and frustration grew further when Rhioui was shown a red card for kicking the ball away after being flagged offside. Steyning pressed relentlessly whilst Lancing clung on, desperate to preserve a point.
As the match edged into its closing stages, the tension inside the ground was palpable. Then, in the 89th minute from a sharp corner, Stanley Bridgman met the delivery with a decisive header to complete the turnaround and give Steyning a dramatic 4–3 lead. Moments later, the final whistle confirmed a remarkable comeback victory for the hosts, sparking celebrations after an unforgettable contest.
MotM Stan Bridgman. Presentation by Skipper Dion Jarvis. Both with two goals.
Reported by Lauren Hawker.
Scenes as the winner goes in!
