Following what was just their second league victory of the season away at St Francis six days previous, the Blues showed a trio of changes to their side, with Ade Fermin and Declan Lunn-Gorman returning in place of Shane Moses and Joe Robinson, and Brandon Morley rewarded with his first start, Ben Kirk-Patrick dropping out.

Kicking off into the late morning sun in their first match of 2017, the Blues’ game plan became immediately obvious, sitting deep and encouraging away pressure, whilst aiming to counter attack whenever the opportunity arose. With very little action to speak of in the opening half an hour or so, other than the Tigers’ unsuccessful peppering of the right wing and squandering of the many half-chances which came their way, alongside Ringmer’s own failed forays into enemy lines, the game appeared to be heading for an understated stalemate, even at this early stage, unless either side could demonstrate a glimmer of their attacking potential.

Fortunately for the crowd present, the first half did liven up at this point, league top scorer Andy McDowell’s header from little under six yards out forcing Dan Hutchins in the home goal into the first save of the match, low at his near post. In truth, the closest either side came to goal in the first 45 minutes was five minutes from the close, when the passionate remonstrations of Saltdean players fell on deaf ears as Morley’s show of strength inside the Ringmer box forced Danny Turner over, before the young midfielder himself earned a free kick after attempting to dance his way out of the box.

After an honestly drab first half, manager Ash Bailey’s order must have been more of the same for the second half, as it seemed the only likely way in which his Blues were likely to scrape a result was to limit any openings the Tigers could have in the final third, or face being torn apart. Seeming to have not quite grasped the message however, Ringmer’s defenders faced being exposed twice in the first five minutes, firstly relying on Matt Simpson’s headed goal-line clearance and Hutchins’ last-gasp stop at his near post to twice deny McDowell, before Hutchins bravely rushed out to stop sub Ash Rees, only for lineswoman Katie Wilde to flag for offside.

Wilde was again called into action in the 58th minute, chalking off an opportune Saltdean figure’s finish a yard out for offside, nipping across to tap a cross-goal shot into an open goal after Hutchins’ dramatic parry away from Turner’s powerful drive in the previous move, but left frustrated by Ringmer’s resilience as the game ticked over the hour mark.

If the Blues had been toeing a risky line up to this point, the loss of Lee Thompson in defence, with the introduction of striker-turned-winger Joe Robinson in his place, would see their credentials be truly tested in the final half an hour, especially as a positional shuffle saw Ben Thomsett move to centre-back, and Fermin to left-back.

Even though it had to be admitted the Tigers were well on top after this change, their strike force did appear to be struggling, with Hutchins starring as the best, or at least busiest, player on the pitch, equal to anything Saltdean offered. In the wake of a second home change, interestingly attacking with Jamie Stevens replacing Morley, however, the away side capitalised, earning a free kick on the right, decisively headed in by towering centre-back Jason Goddard, picked out unmarked at the front of the crowd of players to nod in.

Looking for a determined response in the final ten minutes, the Blues, instead of forcing the tempo, were pushed back by their efficient opponents, who dictated possession, drawing fouls from the home players and protecting experienced goalkeeper Rikki Banks, who remained untested the whole day.

It was one simple chance which eventually separated the sides, and, despite the commendable home performance, this result will have frustrated Ringmer, who next head to Oakwood at 3PM on Saturday, looking for handy points in their fight to escape the relegation zone.

Ringmer: Hutchins, Simpson, Thomsett (C), Palmer, Thompson (Robinson, 60 mins), Stracey, Fermin (Saint, 82 mins), Shelley, Jackson, Lunn-Gorman, Morley (Stevens 73 mins)

Subs not used: Milburn, Wo

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