Littlehampton make it 48 goals in 10 games - Wick slip up

Littlehampton made it 48 goals in ten SCFL games with a 7-1 thumping of Billingshurst – but they had to come from behind.

Littlehampton looked sharp early with a Tom Biggs shot in the eighth minute kept out by a great save. Billingshurst took the lead in the 15th minute. A dribble from Martin Mutungi caused the Littlehampton defence problems and he beat James Binfield at his near post.

Littlehampton got back into it just after the half hour through a Joe Benn goal as a rebound fell his way.

Golds kept up the pressure and were close to going ahead in the 40th minute with a George Gaskin strike which was saved.

In the second half Littlehampton played with more confidence and it didn’t take long for them to take the lead with Benn scoring again in the 51st minute.

Bennsoon wrapped up his hat-trick with a header from a Mitch Hand cross.

A penalty in the 65th minute was calmly put away by Jordan Layton to make it 4-1. Then a Jack Newhouse strike sped into the bottom corner to make it five.

In the closing few minutes Littlehampton continued to cause problems, with Billingshurst’s chances of a comeback gone.

Littlehampton managed a quickfire double in stoppage time, with a 25-yard strike from Dan Hegarty in the 91st minute finding its way in and Hegarty grabbing a second with a composed header in the 94th minute.

LIAM GALLAGHER

* Wick have been warned not to hand any Christmas gifts to Hailsham Town at Crabtree Park on Saturday.

The Dragons’ run of three wins and a draw ended at Midhurst where defensive lapses and wasteful finishing led to valuable points being dropped.

They took an early lead at the Rotherfield with Kieron Howard converting a penalty after leading scorer Dan Simmonds was fouled. But the Dragons switched off and allowed the hosts to equalise almost immediately. After the interval the hosts took the lead and Wick were unable to snatch a deserved point in a barnstorming finish.

Hailsham have made a slow start to their division one campaign with just seven points to their credit and victory would put the Dragons in good spirits for the Boxing Day derby at Littlehampton and the home clash with Selsey on December 28.

Wick joint manager Lee Baldwin said: ‘We can return to winning ways if we play our best football and cut out errors.

“We didn’t play badly against Midhurst and we will be in fine shape if we reproduce our top form in the big win against Arundel. We won’t take Hailsham lightly.”

* Yapton FC managed to get in a friendly game before the West Sussex League programme begins again – and won 4-3 at home to Shipley.

Goals from Tom Legge and Liam O’Connor put Yapton in charge but Shipley drew level. Callum Doyle’s goal regained the lead only for Shipley to equalise again before half-time. Ten minutes from time when O’Connor clinched it.

Yapton have a home league game with Felpham this Saturday.