Ten-man Golds let a two-goal lead slip in Sussex Senior Cup

Littlehampton Town Football Club boss Ady Baker. Picture: Kate Shemilt KS16000949

Strikes from Jack Cole and Danny Hand inside the opening 20 minutes had put Golds in control at fellow Southern Combination League Premier Division outfit Eastbourne United in the first-round encounter.

But United completed a magical turnaround, running out 3-2 victors and booking a second-round spot.

Littlehampton boss Ady Baker was left a little frustrated with the defeat and said: “We created so many chances and could easily have been three or four up in the first half. Each game we are improving and to perform how we did against a decent side like them was pleasing.”

Cole opened the scoring on eight minutes, before Hand added a second ten minutes later.

Eastbourne had hope as Bailo Camara pulled one back a minute later and Dean Stevens then levelled things up four minutes after the break.

The turnaround was complete when Camara bagging his second 17 minutes from time.

Littlehampton’s Ross McKay was then shown a straight red for violent conduct on 80 minutes as Golds were knocked out.

LITTLEHAMPTON: Nash; Peters, Farrell, Bates, McKay, Chaplin; Janman, Ball; Hand, Cole, Darwin. Subs: Turek (Darwin), Slade.