Alfie Evans scored the only goal as Phoenix Sports ground out a vital win against Lancing in their fight to beat the drop.

The three points gained by Steve O’Boyle’s side took them out of the bottom two at the expense of the visitors.

They came out the faster and Steve Carvell fired wide after pouncing on a poor clearance then Malaki Toussaint shot just over with Alieu Secka struggling to get back.

After the visitors had not made the most of a couple of corners, Carvell again had a shot, but Secka made a comfortable save then Roberto Ratti did well to get to the bye-line before pulling back to Craig McGee, but a Lancing defender did enough to put him off and he could only fire wide.

Harrison Parker caused problems for Phoenix with his long throws and Andrew Dalhouse met one but headed wide, in so doing injuring himself and being replaced by Bradley Campbell-Francis. 

Two minutes from half time, the Sports went ahead in spectacular style. Henry Douglas crossed, and Evans was horizontal with the ground as he struck his volley in off the underside of the bar from twenty yards out.

Soon after the interval Tom Cousins made a superb block and clearance to thwart Modou Jammeh when another Parker throw caused problems, then Lorenzo Lewis shot wide from twenty-five yards out.

Parker headed over from Darius Goldsmith’s corner before Charlie Martin made a good save from Jammeh’s drive. Campbell-Francis then shot from a tight angle but could not beat Martin.

Ratti surged forward when collecting a mis-placed pass from Liam Hendy but elected to shoot rather than squaring to Carvell, which may have been the better option. 

As the game moved into the last ten minutes, Phoenix forced the Lancers into more desperate efforts to try and get something out of the game and Matthew Daniel’ effort from long range drifted wide.

Luke Leppard had an opportunity to finish the contest on the break, but Secka dived bravely at his feet however, shortly after, Hendy’s hopeful volley was well off target and, with it, Lancing’s hopes.

O’Boyle’s team now have a great chance of escaping with two games to play, especially if they can get something out of their Easter Monday visit to Corinthian.

Phoenix Sports: Martin, Douglas, Cousins, McGee, Adeyemi, Clark, Ratti (Walker 80), Toussaint, Leppard, Carvell, Evans.

Unused subs: Dorling. Oshinowo, Aikon, Phillips.

Goal scorers: Evans (43)

Yellow cards: None

Lancing: Secka, Joumaa-Zabadne (Corrie 82), Juwara (Kingston 83), Daniels-Yeamans, Parker, Hendy, Lewis, Goldsmith, Daniel, Jammeh, Dalhouse (Campbell-Francis 40).

Subs not used: Evans, Louis. 

Goal scorers: None

Yellow cards: None

Referee: Callum Peter

Assistants: Nik Garside and Daniel Bishop

Attendance: 225