For the second consecutive league match, Valley were left to rue a worrying profligacy in front of goal and an opposition stopper at the height of his powers, as honours were shared at Culver Road.
Returning to the scene of a comfortable 4-1 win in the FA Trophy a fortnight ago, Valley were met by a Lancing starting line-up showing five changes from the previous encounter, if little change in attacking ambition.
From as early as the eighth minute when goalkeeper Alieu Secka thwarted Dan Bennett’s burst on goal after being put through by Kershaney Samuels, it was a case of attack versus defence as the visitors sought an opening.
Bennett went close to breaking the deadlock in the 20th minute when his audacious 40 yard lob caught Secka in no mans land – the ball clearing the crossbar by the barest of margins.
In a rare foray on the Valley goal, Lancers’ striker Ashley Mutongerwa effected the first moment of consternation in the visitors defence as he twisted and turned in the 18 yard box before his effort nestled in the hands of Valley custodian Chris Lewington.
But the respite was to be short lived.
Barely had the ink dried on noting the above effort, Mutongerwa again took possession midway through the Valley half. As he raced through, the tall striker fired low to Lewington’s right – the ball squirming through the keeper’s grasp before finding the corner of the net.
With something to hold on to, the hosts now stood tall and defended in numbers to retain what they had,
Strong challenges from Mutongerwa, Billy Fuller and Marcus Allen on Kiki Oshilaja, Tom Chambers and Sonny Black respectively, rained in and were suitably punished by referee Peter Lowe administering yellow cards either side of the interval.
After being sent from the dressing room early for the start of the second half, the visitors ears appeared to be suitably burning as they upped the tempo after the break.
And parity was deservedly restored in the 53rd minute.
After Bennett played the ball out to Chambers on the left, the Valley wing back’s cut back from the bye line appeared to deflect off the chest of Secka on its way into the net.
Buoyed by finally drawing level, Ade Adeyemo wriggled to find space in the hosts penalty area before being denied by the feet of Secka – Hassan Ibrahiym’s follow up effort being deflected for a corner.
The same combo were at it again shortly after – this time Ibrahiym’s effort from 18 yards being superbly saved by Secka’s hands following superb work by Adeyemo 20 yards out.
Facing ever increasing defensive numbers and time wasting tactics, Samuels and Denzel Gayle combined before the ball found Barney Williams who was next to be denied by the inspired Secka as the clock ran down.
And after Ibrahiym’s shot from 20 yards was again pushed for a corner by Secka in the fourth minute of stoppage time, Lancing were left to celebrate a hard earned point, while Millers’ boss Kevin Watson reflected on two that had got away.

MATCH RATING: - ***

MAN OF THE MATCH – Alieu Secka (Lancing)

LANCERS : Secka, Legrange, Zabadne, Daniles-Yeomans, Butler, Allen, Madhani (Livedey-Austin 76), Hallard (Gould 90), Mutongerwa, Fuller, Starkey (Stephenson 74)
Substitutes Not Used : Francis-Campbell, Louis
Cautions : Mutongerwa, Fuller, Allen

MILLERS : Lewington, Dymond ©, Chambers, Williams, Oshilija, Gayle, Black, Samuels, Bennett, Ibrahiym, Adeyemo
Substitutes Not Used : Tumkaya, Majek, Webb

Referee – Peter Lowe
Assistants – Oscar Whiting and Kai Morgan

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