FA Vase replay for Golds as Croydon await

Golds drew the second-round clash 1-1 at home to Combined Counties League Premier Division side Hanworth Villa at the weekend.

They were then scheduled to make the long trip to London for the replay on Tuesday evening, but the clash fell foul of the weather – meaning the reply to decide who faces a trip to Croydon in the next round now takes place this Tuesday.

Golds were waiting on a decision of a possible waterlogged pitch on Tuesday, but the home side refused to have an inspection before 6pm, despite Littlehampton having to leave at 4.30pm.

Golds manager Mark Bennett said: “One of our committee members was working up near their ground and said the weather was atrocious.

“So our secretary phoned theirs but they said they wouldn’t make a decision until 6pm.

“Luckily, we phoned the match referee and he said he’d go along and inspect it early for us and it was called off just gone 3pm.

“It’s one of those things and was out of our hands. I was happy to go up there on Tuesday, as I know the lads were up for it after some of the things that they said on Saturday.”

The replay has been re-arranged for Tuesday, and one blessing is that Golds should have both Shay Wiggins and Jamie Thompson fit.

Ross McKay gave Golds the lead in front of a bumper crowd on Saturday when he headed home from Mitchell Hand’s free kick in the 32nd minute.

Littlehampton keeper Jon Hendrick denied a quickfire equaliser when he kept out Rick Farnden’s effort, before Jamie Atterwell failed to double Golds’ lead just before half-time.

Hanworth equalised after 70 minutes when Sam Talbot followed up from Farnden’s strike that came back off the post.

Hendrick made a great save five minutes later, before Littlehampton could have won it in the closing stages but Nathan Peacock’s effort hit the post.

The woodwork denied Golds again in extra-time when Danny Hand’s header hit the post.

Bennett said: “I don’t think we played as well as we can, however, we had enough chances to win.”