Back into the side came Paul Kennett and Chad Milner with Jack Boxall dropping to the bench and Craig Knowles unavailable on the day.
On a 'chilly for March' afternoon at the Shooting Field the match got under way and in the first minute we attacked and had a goal rightly disallowed for a shove by Kris Harding.

We meant business and pressed hard for a goal, passing the ball around and linking up nicely with some strong running up front in particularly from Rob Clark and Chad Milner.

We came close on fifteen minutes when a long range effort from Lewis Levoi dipped just over the bar.

For the visitors, Russell Eldridge hit a free-kick narrowly wide and on about twenty minutes Aaron Jeal saved w
ell from Common striker Martin Denny.
In the twenty fifth minute though, we went behind. Eldridge swung a free-kick in from the right, finding Common hit-man Lewis Hole who made no mistake from close range. 1-0 Common.

We were not deterred and continued to battle hard and on thirty seven got our reward. Kris Harding won the ball out on the left and played a decent pass out to Chad Milner on the right. Chad held onto the ball well under pressure and found Paul Kennett on the edge of the box, whose shot was blocked only for Rob Clark to rifle the rebound into the bottom left corner. 1-1.

We continued to press but down the other end Aaron had to produce a couple of good saves from Jared Lusted and Dom Bristow to ensure we went in level at the break.
Half-time Steyning 1 Little Common 1

Unfortunately the second half did not start favorably for us when in the first minute a through-ball found Lewis Hole to slot past Aaron from close range and restore the visitors' advantage. 2-1 Common.
Again we kept our heads up and may have got back into it five minutes later when Kennett headed straight at keeper Matt Crutwell in a goalmouth scramble resulting from a corner.

Aaron made a fine save from a 'stinger' from Hole, denying him his hat-trick, before on seventy five a ball from Clark found Kris Harding homing in on goal from the right who coolly slotted past Crutwell into the far side of the net to bring us level again. 2-2.

We were now well and truly 'on the scent' and John made a bulk substitution with Lee Early, Callum Towse and Jack Boxall replacing Matt Dodd, Harding and Clark to give us some fresh legs.
Alas, it didn't work out and it was disappointing to blow it to a cheap penalty. Five minutes from time a foul just inside our box by Boxall on Lusted presented Common the chance to wrap up the points. Eldridge stepped up to put the resulting kick to the left of Aaron and seal it.

Final score - Steyning 2 Little Common 3

Such a shame to lose again. Plenty of effort and endeavor but maybe not quite making it count in that 'final 3rd' often enough. We need to discover a ruthless streak. Chins up! Maybe we'll get some joy at home to Westfield next Saturday.

Town line-up Jeal, Shug'ga, Pickup, Finch, Parsons (capt), Dodd, Milner (Early), Kennett (Boxall), Harding (Towse) , Levoi, Clark

Ref - Neil Saxton Assts - Keith Brisley & Ken Vickery