Delfation for Lancing - but no dishonour after FA Vase exit

Lancing celebrate Mo Juwara's goal / Picture: Stephen Goodger

There will be no Wembley trip this season for Lancing Football Club. They exited the FA Vase by the tiniest of margins at Culver Road, edged out on penalties by Flackwell Heath.

With the scores locked at 1-1 after 90 minutes, and no extra time allowed under this season’s Vase rules, it was down to the shoot-out from 12 yards.

Visiting keeper Aaron Watkins saved Lancing’s first and fourth spot-kicks, and a triumphant Flackwell Heath had booked their place in the last 16.

For the Lancers, it was a cruel finish to a grippingly close contest in the Culver Road sunshine. They had played with purpose, great organisation and teamwork, and for long spells they controlled the play. But only goals win games, and Lancing had only one – Mo Juwara’s strike just before half-time – to show.

It was a close and often gripping game / Picture: Stephen Goodger

Lancing v Flackwell Heath FA Vase picture gallery.

Visitors Flackwell Heath – leaders of the very strong Hellenic League when the season was frozen – always looked potent in their swift, breakaway attacks, but after a strong opening they had faded, and spent almost the whole second half on the back foot.

Lancing might have been two up in the first ten minutes. Left-back Juwara, whose enterprise and electric pace would catch the eye all afternoon, danced in and set up a fourth-minute chance for Conrad Honore but the shot was blocked. Then Lewis Finney zipped in a lethal low cross from the right, but Matt Daniel’s finish only found the side netting.

And on ten minutes Heath were ahead with the tamest of goals. Home keeper Mitch Brommage splendidly turned away Khalid Symo’s strike, but the resulting corner was pure catastrophe for the home defence, Symo popping the ball into an open net from barely three yards.