Littlehampton 4-0 Molesey

LITTLEHAMPTON Football Club stunned Combined Counties League Premier Division side Molesey in the extra-preliminary round of the FA Cup on Sunday afternoon with a resounding win.

Despite their opponents being two leagues higher in the footballing pyramid, Golds were the better team and ran out comfortable victors to set up a meeting at Ryman League Division 1 South outfit Burgess Hill in the next round on August 25.

Golds started as they meant to go on with the opening goal coming after just 16 seconds. Straight from the kick-off, Littlehampton put together a decent move and the ball eventually made its way to the feet of Michael Hendrick, who cut inside and struck a sweet shot into the top corner of the net.

Two excellent stops from Golds goalkeeper Jon Hendrick either side of the break ensured their slender one-goal advantage was maintained, before Danny Hand was brought down inside the penalty area by Molesey keeper Wester Young. Hand then dusted himself off to dispatch the spot-kick for a 2-0 lead.

George Gaskin then put the result beyond all doubt as he cleverly lobbed Young following an inch-perfect through ball from Hendrick, before Mitchell Hand slotted in Gaskin for his second and the hosts fourth.

Golds boss Mark Bennett believed the scoreline flattered his side, and said: “In patches we played well and I am happy to get the result.

“I spoke to their manager before the game and they have already won their first three matches and are going for the title, so we did well to beat them.

“The performance wasn’t as clean as I would have wanted but it doesn’t matter as we are in the next round.”

Golds play their first County League Division 2 match of the season on Saturday when they travel to Southwick and they are then away to