WICKERS NEED MORE FRIENDS TO CALL ON

However, the visitors used one of their lifelines and phoned a friend, defender Liam O'Brien, who arrived on to the pitch with 43 minutes played.

By that stage it was 1-1 as Littlehampton had failed to put their one-man advantage to use, although winger Ben Torode was a bright spark for Golds and he scored the winner with time running out.

Torode should have put Golds ahead in the opening minute but his cross-shot eluded Littlehampton supporters' player of the season, Daren Pearce, at the far post.

Within six minutes of the start, the 10 men of Southwick went in front. Jon Donoghue's shot was turned in from six yards out by Dan Jordan.

The lead did not last long, though, as Golds levelled on 15 minutes. Torode crossed to the back post where Mark McCallum headed his first goal of the season.

Donoghue twice had chances to put Southwick back ahead but fired both efforts high over the bar. The closest Golds came to going 2-1 up was when Pearce flashed an effort inches wide.

O'Brien entered the fray up front on 43 minutes after a strange County League moment. Five minutes earlier, when Golds' Lee Barnard was being treated, Wickers' Grant Ansbro and Gary Beal were attempting to phone O'Brien from the pitch because physio Tony Dineen was unsure how the mobile phone worked.

Possession-wise Littlehampton dominated the second period but Wickers' Kevin Sharpe missed two gilt-edged opportunities. On 60 minutes, he had a bit of luck getting past James West but then with Golds' keeper Alex Bryant already grounded, he amazingly shot over from 10 yards.

This proved costly when Torode volleyed home Mark Windsor's fired cross on 80 minutes, but Sharpe should have equalised on 84 minutes. Mark Burt played him through, but again with just Bryant to beat he blazed over.

Southwick captain Gary Beal said: "It's been the story of our season really. Six players let us down last night and Liam went AWOL. He started phoning people at 2 o'clock and the club will have to pay for his taxi to the ground.

"I've never ever played in a County One team with 10 players before. We were up against it from the off when we are in desperate need of the points.

"We did well, though, and great credit to all the lads who played. We nearly got a point and I feel for all the boys, they are all in bits at the moment.

"We've just got to win our last game and hope the others lose."

Wickers host Eastbourne Town a week Saturday in their final game.

SOUTHWICK: Figg; Ansbro, Jordan, Cox, Harrison; White, Beal, Burt, Sharpe; Donoghue, O'Brien (from 43 mins). No subs.