Golds extend unbeaten run to six games with Storrington victory

The scoreline in the County League Division 2 game made the result look a lot closer than it actually was. In truth, Littlehampton should have won this game at a canter, but failed to make the most of some good opportunities to put the game beyond Swans.

Golds took the lead in the 19th minute when a weak shot from Alex Kew was not dealt with by the Swans defence and Jason Jarvis had the easiest of finishes from inside the six-yard box.

This was no less than the home side deserved as Storrington struggled to gain any momentum in the game.

Littlehampton were punished for their lack of cutting edge with just a minute to go until half-time. A fierce Liam Humphreys shot was parried by Jon Hendrick and Kristian Harding had time to pick his spot as the home defence stood motionless.

A change in Swans’ system for the second half made life tougher for Golds, but also meant that Swans’ goal threat diminished as they switched to five in midfield, leaving Dan Measom as the lone striker, with substitute Chris Watton sat in front of the back four. The system change appeared to be working until Watton turned his ankle and from then on it was almost one-way traffic.

On 57 minutes, Jarvis claimed his second as the Storrington back line failed to execute another clearance. The game was then all but over in the 66th minute, when a Dan Kempson throw somehow found its way to Kew. He cut inside and squared to Peter Beadle, who rifled the ball into the roof of the net..

Beadle would have had a second eight minutes later had it not been for Sam Elliott’s terrific challenge inside the six-yard box, and Swans could have made the last seven minutes interesting had Hendrick not somehow scrambled back to claw away Harding’s delicate chip.

Golds manager Mark Bennett said: “The first 35 minutes was the best we’ve played all season, but we went to sleep a bit for their goal. We’ve got a good, young side but we are going to have to be more clinical in front of goal.”

LITTLEHAMPTON: Hendrick; Goff, Bates, McKay, Kempson; Kew, Bibb, Atterwell, M.Hand; Jarvis, Beadle. Subs: Manning (Bibb 75), D.Hand (Kew 88), Wrigley, Janman, Gaskin.