Common young guns edged out by leaders

The Commoners fielded six members of their under-18s squad due to the extent of their injury problems, but still made Lingfield work hard for their 1-0 victory.

In fact, the Surrey side might have been a touch fortunate to have left The Recreation Ground with all three points because Common had a goal controversially disallowed in stoppage time at the end of the game.

The visitors' linesman immediately raised his flag to indicate that the ball had gone out of play before Dan Larkin delivered a cross which Jared Lusted headed into the net.

"I thought we got robbed of a point," said manager Ken Cherry. "Even their defenders said it didn't go out so I was a bit upset about that.

"I was fairly pleased with the performance considering we had six under-18 players. I thought it was a fairly even game and I felt we did enough to get a point.

"But we're just not scoring goals at the moment and that's the whole problem. We're doing everything up until that area, but we're just without somebody able to put it in the net."

And that problem was all to apparent on Saturday. Common were solid enough at the back for the most part and decent in midfield where the composure of the experienced Craig Willard dovetailed nicely with the energy of impressive youngster Josh Brown.

But they lacked a goal threat because a Larkin strike into the side-netting and blocked shot from Brown during the first half were the only attempts at goal they could muster until Tim Bigg drove wide from an acute angle right at the death.

They were playing a decent side, however, and Lingfield looked far more threatening going forward, although both teams contributed to a thoroughly watchable spectacle with some attractive passing football.

Lingfield squandered a couple of presentable opportunities before the prominent Jason Spiteri was given too much time and space in the home penalty area to strike the decisive blow three minutes from the break after Dan Gillard had carved Common open down their right.

Spiteri was denied by a splendid diving save from Matt Shoesmith just before the hour, but despite Common's late rally, Lingfield were worthy winners.