Cave is spot on as Loxwood secure maiden FA Cup win

The Magpies - who got their competitive season underway in the historic competition and bagged £1,500 prize money and a place in the preliminary round.

Victory against Kent Premier club Erith & Belevedere was the club’s maiden FA Cup triumph after losing on their debut this time last year.

​In what was a closely-contested game, the difference came in the 61st minute when Tom Summerfield was felled in the penalty and Cave stepped up to dispatch the penalty into the bottom right-hand corner.

Manager Mark Beard said: “It was a really good game considering it was the first competitive game for both sides.

“We went there in quite good shape and a good mood after pre-season, but talking to their manager, every team they had played in pre-season were from divisions above.

“We then saw they had Ashley Robinson playing, who played for Crystal Palace and Darren Leacock, who was at Charlton, so they are ex-professional boys.

“Both teams made a few mistakes at first, but once we got into our rhythm we were ok and it was good open game

“In defence we had Joel Colbran, who is 17, Tom Summerfield and Harry Bachelor, who are just 18. It was a very young team and Toby House on his debut is 18 as well.

“The average age was just 22. They did brilliantly in defence and going forwards as well, we looked really dangerous. It was a good performance and we had a bit of history as well with the first win.

“It brings some money in which is always helpful for us and we now have a nice home draw in the next round.”

Ross Swaine, Mark Cave and Toby House all had half chance in the opening period, while Summerfield was also felled in the box with nothing given.

After Cave had given the visitors the lead, Bachelor hit the post, before Loxwood cleared three off the line in a frantic final few minutes.

Loxwood now advance to a home tie against Arundel on Saturday, August 20.

Loxwood: Smith, Bachelor, Colbran, French, Jacques, Summerfield (Scally), Napper, Swaine (Penfold), Williams, Cave, House (Jee).

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