Two goals from birthday boy Marcel Barrington helped The Millers secure their first win of the season on the 3g at Culver Road.
A three goal first half display helped gloss over some kamikaze second half defending as Valley overcame a committed second half display from League newcomers Lancing.
Two consecutive four goal drubbings without reply have made it a difficult start to the season for a Club shorn of seven players following elevation from the Southern Combination League during the summer.
Little surprise then that in a first half dominated by the visitors, Lancing succumbed to a succession of Millers attacks – Barrington firing low past Mitch Bromage in the 21st minute after being played in by an excellent pass threaded through by Kalvin Morath-Gibbs.
After an excellent run by Mark Goldson saw him fire high over Valley custodian Chris Lewington’s bar, the lead was doubled just after half an hour.
Jack Sammoutis slid a free kick wide on the right into the path of Francis Babalola, who advanced to lift the ball over Bromage from close range.
Barrington continued to present problems for the hosts backline – the experience of Will Berry and Liam Hendy providing guidance for their younger colleagues – with an effort being saved low down by the post by Bromage after excellent work from Babalola.
And five minutes before the interval the points were surely secured.
Another incisive through ball from Sammoutis found Barrington wide on the right. As the striker advanced on goal, Bromage parried his fierce drive for a corner. As Sammoutis’ flag kick found its way to Cem Tumkaya at the far post, the tall defender somehow bundled home his first goal of the season.
With a threadbare squad – injuries to Rory Hill and Ade Adeyemo meaning only fourteen made the trip to Sussex – expectation was that, with the game seemingly won, the second half would see some changes ahead of Monday’s encounter against Corinthian.
The only change however came in the emergence of a revitalised and energised Lancing.
From the off the hosts started to assert themselves on the game, reducing the arrears just five minutes after the restart.
Morath-Gibbs slipped and lost possession on the Millers left, the ball being won by the increasingly influential Alberto Lubango. The tricky striker made ground before crossing to Finn Daniels-Yeomans who converted from close range.
Having secured their first goal of the season, confidence started to flow through the newcomers.
Berry won the ball in midfield before feeding Lubango – the raider’s effort being well blocked by Lewington before a melee ensued in the Millers penalty area before being cleared.
Respite came for The Millers shortly after however after a long ball forward from Tumkaya found Barrington who again advanced on goal before firing low to Bromage’s right.
In what was becoming a fast flowing open game – although surely better game management from the visitors should have seen it through comfortably – outstanding interplay between Hendy, Darius Goldsmith and Lubango on the edge of the penalty area was halted by an excellent tackle from Morath-Gibbs.
The pendulem then swung the other way – Barrington receiving the ball on the right before forcing Bromage into a save low down from 20 yards.
Following a double substitution for The Millers twenty minutes from time, – Denzel Gayle and Gavin Tomlin replacing Sammoutis and Barrington – Lubango lined up to take a free kick just outside the visitors’ penalty area.
His low drive was pushed for a corner by Lewington’s left hand as the hosts continued to press.
As the pressure intensified from Lancing, Paul Semakula lost possession midway in the Millers’ half. Almost predictably, the ball found its way to Lubango in the penalty area before more poor defending by the Valley rearguard saw the ball forced home by substitute Matt Daniel four minutes from time.
A further late raid from Lancing saw Lewington save well low down from Lubango, before a first victory of the season for Kevin Watson’s men was confirmed.
MILLERS’ STAR MAN: – MARCEL BARRINGTON – Two top class finishes capped a hard working birthday performance
MATCH RATING: – ****
LANCERS : Bromage, Brown, Parker, Garner (Connolly 73), Berry, Hendy, Lubango, Goldsmith, Janneh (Campbell-Francis 56), Daniels-Yeomans, Goldson (Daniel 64)
Not Used : Joumma Zabadne, Docherty
MILLERS : Lewington, Dymond ©, Green (Blanks 76), Semakula, Tumkaya, Sammoutis (Gayle 69), Barrington (Tomlin 69), Babalola, Warren, Morath-Gibbs, Ibrahiym
Caution : Green
Referee : Rob Ablitt
Assistants : Joel Lamping, Greig Walker
Attendance: 101
Pic – Chaos ensues in the Lancing penalty area before Cem Tumkaya bundles in The Millers’ third
Match photos by Michael Brown – @BSportsphotos