WICK Football Club suffered their third successive league defeat on Saturday (March 10) as joint boss Dave Towers felt his side did not get the rub of the green.
The 2-1 loss at Southwick, who won with two Sam Blundell goals, was Wick’s eighth from their last nine league games and they have slipped from seventh to 13th in the County League Division 2 table with the run.
Towers said: “We lacked the final ball and didn’t get the rub of the green, which often happens when you’re on a run like we are.
“We don’t get enough goals or creativity from midfield and were missing Joe Leggatt and Dave Speller, who make a massive difference. We were a bit unlucky but we can’t strengthen as no-one wants to join us.
“We need to improve on our final ball as that let us down, but we did well at times and the performance was pleasing, even if, again, the result was disappointing.”
Southwick, full of confidence after recent wins over Eastbourne United and Midhurst, started well and carved out two decent chances early on.
First, Jordan Saunders saw his goalbound effort inadvertently blocked by team-mate Jay Tidey, and then Blundell skimmed the bar from 20 yards.
Wick’s Scott Towers volleyed over from a Jonas Templeman cross while Dan Simmonds also went close for the visitors, before Southwick opened the scoring just past the half-hour.
Jordan Stubbings’ corner was flicked on by Scott Packer, Wick did not clear their lines and Blundell reacted quickest to scramble home the loose ball.
That was the last noteworthy action of a first half that was evenly-contested, but it was Southwick who dominated after the break.
Lewis Finney had an effort tipped round the post by Wick keeper Matt Neocleous, George Turrell headed over from close range and Blundell was inches away from converting the impressive Finney’s cross, but he failed to make the contact needed to take the ball in.
Wick’s goal had led a charmed life but they always looked dangerous on the break and one such counter-attack fell to the lively Simon Barnidele, but he shot too close to Callum Fidler when well-placed.
Southwick were then denied what appeared a good case for a penalty when Saunders went down under a challenge from Dan Miller.
Alain Multini then fired just off-target as Southwick seemed unable to get the second goal they deserved.
But it finally arrived 12 minutes from time. Finney went on an excellent run and his cross to the back post found Blundell to angle home a difficult volley for his third goal in two games.
Such was their dominance, it looked as though Southwick would see out the match in comfort, but Wick had other ideas.
With eight minutes remaining, they halved the deficit through Simmonds’ well-taken goal from John Miller’s pass, but that was as good as it got.
Southwick never looked like relinquishing the lead as they ended the game on the front foot and saw out proceedings in a comfortable manner.
Wick travel to Loxwood, who have won their last four matches, on Saturday.
WICK: Neocleous; Pasterfield, D.Miller, Cox, Olarewaja; Danny Towers, J.Miller, Barnidele, Simmonds; S.Towers, Templeman (debut). Subs: Playle-Howard (Olarewaja 46), Regan (S.Towers 79), Stairs.
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