LOPEZ LIFTS LANCERS

LANCING stuffed another four goals past Crawley Down last Wednesday '” and 16-goal leading scorer Adam Burton never even found the net as his team climbed to a season-high fourth place. After sending Down tumbling 5-0 in Crawley on October 9 '” when Burton notched his second hat-trick in three games '” Lancers piled on repeat agony and already had four by half-time.

The second half was an understandable non-event. But not the first.

Welsey Lopez, the former Worthing left-winger, and new striker James Hannah each scored twice and Lancing boss Mark Cox noticed afterwards: "They went hunting for a hat-trick when they could have slid in Adam for a goal. They knew he was there. But I'm not going to be critical, tonight."

As if Hannah, Burton and back-up Richard Lester were not strikers enough, Cox signed prolific Brighton League marksman Rob Partridge from Mike Oak Reserves last week and brought him off the bench.

Crawley Down looked destined for another five goals going past them but Cox remarked: "They certainly tightened up in the second half. Wesley Lopez ran the show in the first half so after half-time they doubled up on him and roughed him up. But that's football.

"Wes is much fitter now and so he was firing on all cylinders. He was awesome and his second goal was unbelievable."

On eight minutes, Lopez classily bent a free kick from the edge of the penalty area low around the wall and inside the near post. On 24, Hannah finished easily when Lopez slid a pass to him after dribbling across the front of the 18-yard box.

On 27, Crawley Down hacked the ball clear but just inside their half, Lopez intercepted and chipped the keeper who was off his line. And on 43 '” Lopez uninvolved this time '” Hannah strongly held off a challenge to score when fed perfectly by full-back Paul Ettridge, who had won the ball.

Lancers can be a force now Lopez is fit and can link up with the influential Graham Martin in midfield.

Cox feels throwing experience at their down-table plight in November has paid off but pointed out: "The players who had to stand down cannot have found it a great hardship to play in the Reserves." They head Worthing United at the top of the West Division.

LANCING: Reid; Mtambara, Reilly, Bailey, Ettridge; Rhodie, MacDonald, Martin, Lopez; Burton, Hannah. Subs: Dixon (Mtambara 62), Partridge (Hannah 75), Thompson, Mohamad Ali, L.Nash.

Att: 34.