A good night for Golds and Bears

After our first weather-related postponement of the season on Saturday (can someone please tell the weather it’s meant to be summer) Littlehampton Town and Rayners Lane finally got to meet in the FA Trophy last night- and they delivered plenty of entertainment for those watching on.

The Pitching In Isthmian South Central visitors got their noses in front after only eight minutes, Bradley Bubb scoring from the edge of the box, but the hosts levelled just before the break, Josh Layton forcing the ball home on the rebound after Lane keeper Ravan Constable saved his spot kick. Twelve minutes into the second half Lane were in front once more, Frank Keita heading home a cross from Kyle Reid, and it looked like they’d booked their place in the next round, only for Town to level five minutes into added time, George Gaskin heading home. Off we went to penalties, and the hosts missed their first to hand the initiative to the visitors, and then both sides scored four in a row before Lane missed their fifth, which would have clinched the tie. Into sudden death, the Golds converted, whilst the visitors missed another- and the hosts, behind twice and behind on spot kicks, somehow triumphed!

In Pitching In Isthmian South East both hosts Steyning Town and visitors Broadbridge Heath were looking for their first points of the season. The travelling Bears had delivered two Cup victories but had lost twice in the league; whilst Town had three knockout victories under their belts but two narrow league defeats. The hosts now have three narrow league defeats, as the Bears picked up three late points. 

Ben Aubrey put the visitors ahead on twenty three minutes- his third goal in four matches- and they held that lead for half an hour until Alfie Rogers levelled for the hosts. The winner arrived nine minutes from time, and it went to Mason Doughty, the Bears number eleven earning his side three points which lift them to fourteenth.