THE BALLOON'S BURST

LANCING'S season has deflated after their sterling climb from the deep depths to fourth place, then their failure to trouble promotion-seeking Wick when they lost 4-0 at Culver Road. Friday's defeat was their third straight, their second without scoring, but all the goals came in the last 17 minutes.

Manager Mark Cox said his team did not disgrace themselves but that it was a night of physical and mental exhaustion after hauling the club clear of relegation danger during the previous three months. He urged the fans to remember the players' achievement and to get behind them: "For us to regroup for a third time this season, now there is nothing left to play for, is going to be difficult."

After their hiding by Wick, Cox and Lancing's board felt stung by criticism from Herald Sport reporter and former County League player Shaun Berrett. His brief was purely to assess Lancing's outside promotion potential on the day's evidence but he saw none. Cox had publicly wanted his team to repeat their recent humbling of leaders Crowborough but it did not happen.

Shaun Berrett saw 19-goal Adam Burton and Wesley Lopez (wanted by Shoreham) as the only first-division quality Lancing performers on view, he thought Lancers looked weak in all areas. He asked if Cox had the player pulling power, and noted Lancing's borrowed social space in the Sussex FA clubhouse lacked post-match entertainment to interest the players.

Cox replied this week: "Wick were a team with several former Lancing players and a point to prove, and ours was not. That was a factor in our defeat.

"I beg to differ with Shaun on Graham Martin, Brett Court, Paul Ettridge, Keith Mtamabara. They have all established themselves at a higher level. And we've younger players coming through like Dean MacDonald, Ashley Bailey and Andrew Crush, to name but a few.

"There are other signings lined up for next season and we'll have a brand new youth team (probably linking with Lancing Rangers].

"Regarding our facilities, after that heavy defeat (to Wick] all our players were in the bar after the game and then we all went together, as usual, to The Merry Monk. There's no problem with our team spirit."

LANCING: Everett; Dixon, Reilly, Crush, Ettridge; Rhodie, MacDonald, Martin, Lopez; Partridge, Burton. Subs: Bailey (Crush HT), Washington, Wright (Dixon, Reilly 76). Broadbridge Heath scorers: Eggleden 73, Sweatman 75, Di Martino 90. Att: 68.