Golds progress past Shoreham on penalties

This was not a game for the fainthearted but it was a great match for the neutral, though, with both sides playing attractive football, goals, and plenty of talking points, mainly based around referee Robert Myhill’s performance, which included seven yellow cards for the visitors and five yellows, plus a red for Mussels.

The game began at a frenetic pace with Golds’ Dan Simmonds hitting the base of Josh Heyburn’s post after just 11 minutes as he was afforded time to turn and shoot on the edge of the area.

Shoreham’s first opportunity occurred on the half-hour as Carl Dunk flicked the ball on to Rob O’Toole, who was closed down by stand-in goalkeeper James Askew, and with the ball trickling agonisingly towards goal, Josh Bates hacked clear the danger.

Shoreham were finding their feet by this stage and a superb crossfield ball from O’Toole found a flying Jamie Craddock on the left wing who forced a good save from Askew, before referee Myhill pointed to the spot for an apparent trip on Craddock that bemused all. O’Toole’s spot-kick went the wrong side of the post, however, after 32 minutes.

Golds almost took the lead in the sixth minute of injury-time but Mitchell Hand’s free kick was well saved by Heyburn at his near post.

Shoreham went ahead on 54 minutes as Craddock steered home Dunk’s wayward shot at the back post but the visitors replied 14 minutes later when substitute Mark Burgess rose highest at the back post to nod home Hand’s free kick.

Both sides had chances to finish the tie in normal time, but goalkeepers reigned supreme.

It took the hosts just three minutes of extra-time to take the lead once more as Askew spilled Lawrence Edwards’ shot and Dunk was on hand to bundle home the rebound.

The final minute of the first period of extra-time brought Golds’ and Burgess’ second goal of the game as the striker found time to turn and fire the ball into the top corner from 25 yards, despite Heyburn getting fingertips to it.

And things went from bad to worse for Mussels as O’Toole was shown a straight red card for a dangerous tackle in first half injury-time – a decision that seemed harsh at best.

And so penalties beckoned, with both sides netting their first three before Askew made amends and saved Edwards’ and Aston McLennan’s efforts to send his side through to the next round.

Golds manager Mark Bennett said: “I didn’t think we played well at all tonight and I’ve told the boys that.

“I’m disappointed with the bookings as the club will now receive a large fine that is an unnecessary expense and we’ll have players suspended.”

LITTLEHAMPTON: Askew; Wiggans, McKay, Bates, M.Hand; Humphreys, Peters, Kew, Packer; Gray, Simmonds. Subs: Finney (Peters 21), Burgess, D.Hand (Humphreys, Finney 61), Webster.