A Darren Boswell brace and a strike from Will Berry ensured that the final score failed to reflect the superiority enjoyed by Golds throughout much of the match.

Littlehampton had taken the lead after just eight minutes when Jason Power's cross was headed home by George Gaskin after static defending.

They doubled their advantage four minutes later. Lancing defender Tony Miles failed to cut out Danny Hand's through ball and Gaskin fired home.

In the 17th minute, Lancing finally forced Golds keeper James Everett into action when he pushed away Boswell's stinging volley. From the resultant corner, Littlehampton broke away, and Richard Brown played in Power, who curled his shot home from 18 yards.

Mark Burgess was then unfortunate not to put Golds four-up on 25 minutes when his effort was cleared off the line by Tom Gurney.

Lancers should have reduced the deficit soon afterwards, but Scott Hunt fired into the side netting from Adam Burton's cross.

With 10 minutes to go to half-time, Golds did go 4-0 up. Gaskin capitalised on non-existent defending to complete his hat-trick.

Lancing improved in the second half, and Lee Garnham's first-time effort was tipped over the bar. They still looked vulnerable at the back, though, and Marcus Robertshaw was denied by Lancing keeper Richard Whittington.

Littlehampton went 5-0 ahead just past the hour when Bryan O'Toole's handball in the penalty area was punished by Power, who made no mistake from 12 yards.

Lancers' misery continued when Adam Burton somehow failed to score an open goal from a yard out. Instead he ballooned his effort over the bar, when it looked easier to score.

Boswell was then denied again by a great save from Everett, before Lancing's late salvo.

Lancing manager Martin Gander said: "We were awful tonight. Our defending was appalling and we were embarrassing in every department.

"The last 10 minutes papered over the cracks but there can be no excuses for that performance. It's not good enough.

"Overall, we were a shambles."

LANCING: Whittington; O'Toole, Miles, Gurney, Hind; Burton, Garnham, Howard, Hunt, Boswell; Griffin. Subs: Ford (Miles 45), Berry (Griffin 62), R.Loversridge (Hunt 73), Spragg, Green.

LITTLEHAMPTON TOWN: Everett; Palmer, Young, Pidgeon, Broadbent; Hand, Brown, Burgess, Robertshaw; Gaskin, Power. Subs: Simmonds (Brown 45), Rowland (Palmer 62), Charman (Robertshaw 69), Cobby, Broderick. Att: 89.


-------------------------------------
Click here to go back to Worthing sport.

Click here to return to Gazette sport.

Click here to go back to Shoreham sport.


Where are you? Add your pin to the Herald's international readers' map by clicking here.

Email the Herald: steve.bailey@worthingherald.co.uk