REPORT FROM MEDWAY MESSENGER - MONDAY 2nd SEPTEMBER 2019
Lordswood sealed their place in the second qualifying round of the FA Vase as they beat Southern Combination League side Saltdean United on Saturday.
Having struggled to build any attacking momentum in windy first-half conditions, the visitors took the lead through Jai McKinlay just after the hour mark.
Tyler Anderson-Parr doubled Lordswood's lead with 25 minutes remaining to set up a meeting with Southern Counties East rivals Sheppey United in the next round on Saturday 14th September.
"We had a bit of controversy last week and the week before so it was good to come back from those really," said Lordswood manager Darren Anslow.
"The boys just got on with what they needed to do and it was a good performance all round really. We were solid defensively and took our chances when they came.
"The first half was very windy as it was on the coast, we were against it, which kind of limited our attacking options.
"We contained them well though and never really came under that much pressure.
"Second half we had the wind behind us and pretty much dominated the half and could have had a couple more goals if i'm honest.
"We had a 10-minute spell in the second half where we looked very good and we scored two goals in that period.
"Two chances and two really good goals actually. We could have taken more chances but we're happy with keeping a clean sheet and scoring a couple of goals, it's good for our confidence."
Saltdean's task got harder in the 72nd minute when they were reduced to 10 men following two yellow cards in quick succession.
While working with a smaller squad than Lordswood's rivals, Anslow believes he has 16 players capable of vying for a starting spot.
"Because of our resources we're literally running with 16 so it's not a case of rotating," he added. "It's whoever is playing well when we're winning. We're quite lucky that we could play any 11 from the 16 we've got and it's not going to change what we do so it's whoever has got the shirt really, it's their job to stay in it."