Three goals in five minutes from '˜quality' Loxwood performance

Jordan Warren opened the scoring on 15 minutes in somewhat fortuitus style, before birthday boy Joel Colbran crashed in a bullet header and Byron Napper added a free kick.

It all-but sealed the three points after 20 minutes, before Golds pulled a second-half injury time goal back through Jack Cole. Following that Napper was shown a second-yellow card after a unsavoury melee.

But Cocoracchio was delighted with his sides’ display and said: “It was an absolutely quality performance. We have put in three excellent team performances in the last three games and maybe not got the points we wanted on the board.

“That’s why it was really important to go down there, somewhere that can be a tricky place to go, and get the three points. It wasn’t just the result, but the manner of the win, the excellent defensive performance and quality of the football we played.

“From the point of going 3-0 up we were comfortable. At half-time we knew because the wind was so strong we had caused problems by putting the ball under the crossbar.

“They could have done that to us in the second half, so I was particularly pleased to defend fantastically well up until injury-time.”

For the hosts, Jack Newhouse volleyed over after five minutes and Lee Garnham forced a save from Dave Carruthers.

At the other end, Tom Frankland’s effort was tipped over by Luke Hutchings, but the keeper was beaten on 15 minutes as Warren’s wind-assisted cross nestled in the top corner.

Just three minutes, later it was 2-0 as Napper’s corner was headed home via the bar by Colbran. With just two minutes more on the clock, Napper sent his free kick, after a foul on Frankland, past Hutchings and into the far corner.

The hosts fought their way back into the game, although they struggled to find away past a well-organised Loxwood backline, while at the other end, a Napper effort was tipped over by Hutchings.

In the second half, Ross Swaine sent Williams away and he found debutant Tiago Andrade, whose acrobatic effort flew over the bar.

With 15 minutes left, Andrade shot straight at Hutchings and Ed Davies saw his effort saved. Carruthers then had to produce a diving save to deny Garnham, before in added time, Golds substitute Cole pulled a goal back, while Napper was shown a second yellow late on.

Loxwood are set to welcome back Michael Wood and Lewis Scally this weekend as well as the potential of another signing for the visit of Arundel.

Cocoracchio added: “Not only are we looking to finish strongly, but lay foundations for next season to really kick on as well.

Loxwood: Carruthers, Holvey, French, Colbran, Warren, Bachelor (Davies 77), Frankland (Daniel 84), Napper, Swaine, Williams, Andrade.