Slow start costs Littlehampton at Storrington

The Golds boss was disappointed with a number of refeering decisions after they had numerous penalty shouts waved away, before substitute Daryl Wollers pulled a late goal back to make it 3-2, but it was ultimately their first-half display which cost them.

Suter said: “I suppose, in the end, it could have gone either way, but it was a real game of two halves and we didn’t play well in the first. We didn’t defend well and they played a long-ball game, had lots of pace, and caught us flat-footed.

“The second half we dominated and, even someone watching said to me we had two stonewall penalties turned down, one for handball, the other a foul on Dave Gaskin, so it could have been a different story.

“All in all, it was disappointing. The referee was frustrating as he let a lot go for both sides. But, overall, we didn’t play well enough. You can’t give away goals like we did.”

Storrington’s Tim Martin’s two strikes had put Swans 2-0 ahead. The first came after Gary Young gave the ball away and Martin was played in by David Cook after 15 minutes.

Then, after being taken down in the penalty box by debutant Craig Johnson 15 minutes later, Martin stepped up to convert from the spot.

Seconds after the restart, however, Golds’ Barney Boutwood broke and made it 2-1. Kristian Harding then headed home to restore Storrington’s two-goal advantage, but Golds protested as they felt Jon Bennett had been fouled in the build up. With various penalty shouts going against them, Littlehampton continued to dominate the second half and Boutwood hit the post on 75 minutes. Wollers then headed Boutwood’s cross home with his first touch, but with just over a minute left to play that was the last on the action.

LITTLEHAMPTON: Fuller; Young, Johnson, Bennett, Peacock; O’Hagan, Russell, Gaskin; Boutwood, Jarvis. Subs: Hellen (Johnson 30), Beadle (Jarvis 78), Wollers (Russell 85).