Coming into the match our task was made more difficult by the absence of Lewis Levoi, Chad Milner due to suspension and Ash Finch pulling out through through a back injury and Ben Greer with a knee injury sustained in a midweek outing for the reseves. However, skipper Kerry Parsons returned from injury & holiday at left-back with Lee Early dropping to the bench. Ollie Pickup and Callum Towse also came into the side.

On a sunny afternoon at the Shooting Field the opening exchanges produced very little with plenty of build-up play but very few clear-cut chances for either side. On 11 minutes Wick's Nathan Parke lobbed just over and on 15, Ollie Pickup headed just over for Town. It always looked though that the visitors would be the more likely side to score first, and on 26 minutes a blistering shot from outside the box by Wick centre-forward Ash Harper found the top left corner of the Town net. 1-0 to Wick.

We did try to get back into the game and on 35 minutes Ryan Warr produced some neat footwork in the visitors' box but his shot was easily gathered by Wick keeper, Jordan Matthews.
Wick continued to press with forwards Kerry Hardwell and Ash Harper combining well and twice Aaron Jeal saved well from Hardwell and Parke.

But on 42 minutes Rob Hare brought Harper down in the box (yellow carded) and Hardwell slotted in the resulting penalty. 2-0 to Wick.

Half-time - Steyning 0 Wick 2

In the second-half we continued to try to get back into it and a few minutes in, Rob Hare got forward well to deliver a decent cross however Kris Harding's shot went straight at the keeper. But it was always Wick who looked the better side with Ash Harper a constant menace.

John Suter made some substitutions bringing on Lee Early for David Harris and Kurt Milner for Matt Dodd but we never really got going enough and didn't create enough chances throughout. With about 10 minutes to go we nearly went 3 down when Wick's Brad Derry rifled against the cross-bar.

The late introduction of Gareth Dutton for Hare was not enough to salvage a rather lack-lustre performance and we were well beaten on the day by a good side.

Full-time - Steyning 0 Wick 2

Steyning line up - Jeal, Hare (Dutton), Parsons (C), Towler, Pickup, Dodd (Kurt Milner), Harris (Early), Boxall, Harding, Towse, Warr

Ref - David Ellis Assts - Nigel Robinson & Jonathan Wilkes

Next up is an away match on Tuesday night at Oakwood FC in the league