Luck goes against Steyning at Storrington

A FIGHTING display from the Swans at a bitterly cold Recreation Ground on Saturday '” plus a bit of penalty luck '” gave them all three points against local rivals Steyning Town.

It also took Swans vitally above Broadbridge Heath in their fight against relegation.

With 15 minutes left, Steyning's Lee Waterhouse saw his 20-yarder deflect off a Storrington defender and trickle past the post with keeper Gary Elliott wrongfooted. From the corner the ball was only half-cleared and when Waterhouse drilled it back into a cluster of players it struck a Storrington elbow.

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Referee Martin Smith immediately pointed to the spot. But too immediately, as it turned out, because Steve Duffett had smashed the ball into the net. What about advantage Mr Smith?

The outcome, of course, was inevitable. Waterhouse's well-struck penalty was brilliantly saved by Elliott diving to his right. No justice for Steyning, but was it ever a penalty? I think not.

The visitors doubled their efforts and were unlucky not to get another spot-kick when Paul Schofield was blatantly held back by his shirt. But, perhaps, had the Swans deserved their bit of luck?

Swans' joint-manager Nigel Dyer said afterwards: "Steyning are a big side and a bit of a bogey team to us. I am pleased with today's performance, I thought we deserved it. It will take a bit of the pressure off."

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They had put Town under pressure from the start and Craig Grantham soon brought a save from keeper Mike Abbott. On 21 minutes, though, Abbott had no answer to the Swans' fifth corner, which dropped on the edge of the goal area, for Kristian Bridle gleefully to hook home.

Swans went further in front 10 minutes later. John Rhodie received the ball out on the right flank and right-back Ben McKenzie overlapped, distracting the defence. Rhodie instead played the ball inside to Richard Ayres who controlled it, swivelled on a sixpence and hit a peach of a shot, which curled round Abbott into the far corner of the net.

Town had the wind at their backs in the second-half, Schofield's header was well saved by Elliott, then Chris Duffett shot just wide. But at the other end Aaron Meehan's long free-kick almost deceived Abbott.