Flackwell end Golds’ FA Vase dreams

Flackwell progressed into the third round with two goals in the last 15 minutes and Golds manager Mark Bennett said: “I’m not going to make any excuses, they deserved to win the game, but I thought 2-0 flattered them a little.

“We just lacked that cutting edge up front, what with having our two recognised strikers suspended, but we certainly didn’t disgrace ourselves and apart from in the final third, I felt we matched them.”

Golds were always going to struggle for goals with both Jason Jarvis and Danny Hand suspended, coupled with their free-scoring visitors who have scored 50 goals in just 17 league games, the outlook appeared bleak.

This was not to be the case, though, as the hosts were arguably the better side in open play, stringing some nice passing movements together but without ever really threatening the Heath net.

The signs early on were ominous, however, as Heath’s powerful forward pairing of Danny Jordon and Lee Thompson combined nicely in only the fourth minute to force Jon Hendrick into his first save of the afternoon.

The home side seemed a little nervous in the opening exchanges but the more they realised that Heath were little to be worried about, the greater their confidence grew.

Littlehampton’s industrious midfield soon began to run the game but the final ball never came for makeshift strikers James Taylor and Alex Kew to take advantage of, with Hendrick by far the busier of the two goalkeepers.

Only Jamie Wrigley’s long-range volley after 37 minutes really worried Sammy Southerden in the Flackwell Heath goal.

Golds’ dreams of progression were effectively ended in the 75th minute by prolific striker Thompson as he capitalised upon Ross McKay and Aiden Wrigley going for the same ball, and the visiting striker only had to prod the ball past Hendrick from six yards to open the scoring.

The goal came against the run of play with Michael Hendrick having two efforts at goal, the first flying just wide and the second forcing Southerden to tip over as he back-peddled.

The hosts then pushed men forward in search of an equaliser but when Dave Gaskin got under a Heath corner, allowing Thompson to chest down and volley home with seven minutes remaining, the game was up for Mark Bennett’s men.

LITTLEHAMPTON: J.Hendrick; Peters, McKay, A.Wrigley, M.Hand; J.Wrigley, Atterwell, Gaskin, M.Hendrick; Taylor, Kew. Subs: Manning (Atterwell 61), Bibb, Kempson (Peters, M.Hendrick 83), Bates, Askew. Att: 188.