West Sussex League: Lavant love goal feast ... Pirates make more cup progress

Lavant 9 Beaumont Park 1

Centenary Cup QF

This could have been a banana skin against spirited division-three visitors –but Lavant were clinical in making sure they reached the semi-finals.

With strong winds raking across the village green, keeping the ball on the floor was paramount. The visitors struggled to cope with the home side’s passing and movement early on and but for some top saves by keeper Max Beddows, Lavant could have been out of sight.

On 15 minutes, Lavant were forced into an early change as Mike Neville was withdrawn through injury – and replacement Aaron Hancock made an instant impact.

Hancock flew down the left and was clipped on the edge of the 18-yard box. A free-kick and not a penalty was given but James Sandford fired an unstoppable drive into the top corner.

With half-time looming Lavant got the all-important second via Dan Baker, who tucked the ball away in a goalmouth scramble.

Lavant were in the driving seat and broke Beaumont Park’s spirit after the interval, racing into a 7-0 lead with goals from Knight, via a heavy deflection, Sandford, completing his hat-trick, substitute Greg Ayling and Baker with his second.

With Lavant throwing caution to the wind, Beaumont got a deserved consolation after catching Lavant on the break and denying keeper his clean sheet.

The goal of the game came as Knight got his second. Hancock’s positive play down the left led to him laying the ball inside to Knight, who struck a sublime outside-of-the-boot drive into the top corner with the keeper motionless. There was still time for Baker to complete his hat-trick.

Lavant will face Predators or Alfold in their second semi-final of the season.

LAVANT: Sanson, Gabb, Jones, Batten, Lyttle, Brooks, Knight, Neville, Haggar, Baker, Sandford. Subs: Wright, Hancock, Ayling.

Nyetimber Pirates 1 West Chiltington 0

Centenary Cup

James Fallick’s late penalty was enough to fire the Pirates into the quarter-finals of the Centenary Cup at Pirate Park.

Division-one side Pirates went into the game as underdogs, West Chiltington having picked up some big results in the premier division in recent weeks.

Boss Charlie Welling made two changes to the side who beat Ockley last weekend with Perry Dant and Alex Peach coming in to replace Ted Griffin and Sam Pasterfield.

Both sides struggled to create any chances in the first half. The only talking point of the first 45 minutes was Pirates midfielder Dant Limping off after a strong challenge on 12 minutes.

Pirates pushed on in the second half but it wasn’t until the 85th minute that they created a real chance.

They were denied when a West Chilt defender handled on the line, leaving the referee with no other option but to point to the spot.

Fallick dispatched the penalty with ease, giving the Pirates a quarter-final with Cowfold reserves this Saturday.

PIRATES: Pye, Williamson, Hamm, Carter, Bann, Dant, Turner, Peach, Palmer, Fallick, Cox. Subs: Pasterfield, Griffin, Gill.