Golds let two-goal lead slip as wait for Baker's first win continues

A first half strike from Ben Gray and Jack Cole’s maiden Golds goal on the hour looked to be enough to hand Ady Baker a first win as boss.

But credit to City, after Jamie Horncastle’s header 13 minutes from time gave them a lifeline they took full advantage.

In-form striker Scott Jones and Ellis Martin found the net in the final ten minutes to ensure City foughtback to take an unlikely three points.

After a promising start, Golds took a deserved lead on 20 minutes when Gray found the target.

An improved performance from Baker’s side saw them double their lead with an hour played as forward Cole notched his first-ever Littlehampton goal.

Golds were in cruise control and a first three points for Baker looked certain but Horncastle gave City hope when he headed home from a corner.

The prolific Jones then levelled things up with seven minutes left to play, before a wonder strike from Martin broke Littlehampton hearts and helped City to a 3-2 success.

Littlehampton boss Baker said: “For 75 minutes we played them off the park and should have been four or five up.

“We played to a game plan and the lads played really well but just switched off in the last 15 minutes. They got one back and were then in the ascendancy but we should have defended better for their first two goals and the third was a good strike by their left-back but we gave him too much time.”

Golds travel to fellow Premier Division side Worthing United for a Peter Bentley Cup second-round tie on Saturday.

LITTLEHAMPTON: Hutchings; Peters, McKay, Bates, Ball; Janman, Hand; O’Connor, Kew, Gray; Cole. Subs: Chaplin, Farrell, Curnow, Darwin, Askew.