LITTLEHAMPTON TOWN 1-4 STEYNING TOWN
Pitching in Isthmian League South East Division
It was a very poor night at the office for Littlehampton as Steyning took full advantage to clinch their first ever victory at Step 4 level.
Both sides started the evening looking for their first points of the season with Cup fixtures taking precedence at the start of the campaign. Golds had lost their only league fixture at home to Herne Bay a month ago but would have been hoping to build on a fine FA Trophy victory over Sporting Bengal United on Sunday. The visitors had suffered narrow home defeats in their first two Isthmian fixtures but would have seen a visit to a familiar old County League opponent as a chance to get their season up and running.
Golds started the brighter but it was the visitors who broke the deadlock in the 18th minute with their first meaningful incursion into home territory. Lloyd Francis looked as if he was trying to stand up a cross from the left but his ball sailed over James Binfield and found its way into the corner of the Littlehampton net. The goal knocked the wind out of Golds sails as Steyning were largely untroubled for the rest of the half and went into the interval with the advantage.
Before Golds could build any second half momentum Steyning doubled the lead five minutes after the break with a lightning fast attack and a clinical finish from Charlie Meehan. Littlehampton huffed and puffed but the only clear cut chance fell to Rob O’Toole in the 70th minute who lifted the ball over the bar from close range after a cut back from the right. Within another minute or so Steyning put the game to bed with an Alfie Rogers penalty punishing a handball in the Littlehampton box.
Scott Faber did give Golds some consolation with an 86th minute penalty for a similar offence but it was the visitors who had the final word a minute later as Lucas Murrain took advantage of some slack defending to put the gloss on an excellent night’s work for the Isthmian new boys.
John Clarke