Finney fires Lancers to victory over Mussels

The victory was the third for Lancers over Mussels this season and kept them among the Premier Division pacesetters.

Shoreham included debutant Carlton Murray-Price and he had the first opportunity when he fired narrowly wide from an angle.

Michael Belli also went close for the visitors before Lancing took the lead on 18 minutes when Alex Fair charged down a clearance and Finney snaffled up the loose ball from close range.

Fair had an effort deflected narrowly over the bar and Dave O’Callaghan lashed wide, before Shoreham ended the first half strongly.

Callum Fidler saved well from Marc Pelling’s acrobatic effort and Ben Chick rattled the crossbar with a powerful drive on 41 minutes.

That was as good as it got for Mussels, though, and Lancing quickly doubled their lead seven minutes into the second half as Finney slammed in an excellent free kick to take him into double figures for the season.

It was the striker’s fourth goal in the three matches against Shoreham this term and proved to be the decisive factor as, despite Mussels’ spirited response, no late comeback was to follow.

Lancers’ Ross Adams had a header well saved by Sebastian Bos and Richard Greenfield fired wide, while substitute Okwute Izuchukwu went close for Mussels at the other end.

Murray-Price then had a half-chance, before Lancing’s Mike Williamson headed against a post in the final action of the game.

Lancers boss Ash Bailey said: “This was a very good all-round team performance, we needed to get back winning and managed to do that so I’m very pleased and for us to do so in a derby was fantastic.”

Shoreham manager Simon Funnell said: “We got undone by a mistake for their first goal and then a good piece of technique by Lewis Finney for their second, although it shouldn’t have been a free kick.

“The pleasing thing was that, although we lost 2-1 to them last time, we played much better on Saturday and they didn’t really have any clear chances.

“We played well in spells and now it’s a case of getting more consistency and cutting out silly mistakes.”

LANCING: Fidler; Bowra, J.Spinks, Sharman, Fenton; Rouane, E.Finney; McHale, O’Callaghan, L.Finney; Fair. Subs: Adams, Williamson (Fair, McHale 63), Greenfield (O’Callaghan 66), Hendy, Simpson

SHOREHAM: Bos; Johnston, Harding, Hunter, Stevens; Chick, Fleming, Belli, Pelling, Curtis; Murray-Price. Subs: Goodsir (Stevens 55), Izuchukwu (Hunter 66), O’Connor (Curtis 75), McLoughlin.

Shoreham’s match at Littlehampton on Tuesday was postponed owing to a waterlogged pitch.

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1 Make this website your homepage

2 Like our Facebook page at facebook.com/pages/Sport-Sussex

3 Follow us on Twitter @SportSussex

4 Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!