Golds win a thriller to reach cup final

George Gaskin scored Littlehampton's second goal against St Francis

Golds fought back from 2-0 and 3-2 down to progress past division-higher St Francis Rangers 4-3 and will now meet County League leaders Peacehaven & Telscombe in the final on May 10.

In an entertaining match, Golds’ Jason Jarvis was twice denied by Rangers keeper Rob Gordon, before St Francis went ahead on the stroke of half-time when Kieron Pamment finished well at the back post from Brandon Fugl’s low cross.

Pamment doubled his side’s lead on 53 minutes when he latched on to Shag Wiggans’ attempted header back to keeper Jon Hendrick and slotted the ball under the stopper.

Golds made a double substitution with David O’Callaghan and George Gaskin coming on three minutes later, before Ben Gray was also introduced six minutes later.

Within a minute, Gray had made an immediate impact as his low cross was deflected goalwards by a Rangers defender, Gordon parried the ball and Danny Hand tapped home from a couple of yards out.

Golds levelled with nine minutes to go. After Michael Hendrick and Hand had battled away, Gaskin turned past his man and clinically shot low into the far corner from 15 yards for his 31st goal of the season.

Gray almost got the winner in normal time when his shot from Mitchell Hand’s long ball forward went just the wrong side of the post.

Littlehampton were denied what looked a stonewall penalty when Danny Hand was brought down three minutes into extra-time and Rangers went ahead on 103 minutes when Pamment completed his hat-trick with a brilliant strike from 20 yards.

Golds levelled a minute into the second period of added time when Gaskin’s cross was volleyed goalwards by Danny Hand and flew in off St Francis defender Jay Dodd.

Gaskin was then denied by Gordon from close range and Peter Beadle headed straight at Rangers’ keeper, before Littlehampton got the winner with just a minute to go.

Ross McKay launched a long ball forward, Gray nicked the ball off a St Francis defender, skipped past his man and unleashed an excellent shot into the roof of the net from 20 yards to spark wild Littlehampton celebrations.

St Francis barely had time to kick-off as Golds progressed to their second cup final of the season.