Swans exit RUR Cup after defeat at Golds

Action from Storrington's game at Bexhill earlier in the season

George Landais struck a hat-trick, while Scott Packer and George Gaskin also netted as Swans saw their run in this year’s competition ended in round three.

Swans boss Peter Matthews felt his side were more than a match for their opponents in the first half and said: “We acquitted ourselves well for an hour and should have been at least level at half-time.

“But Littlehampton were more clinical in the final third and took their opportunities well. We can take positives from our performance in the first 45 minutes.”

Golds could well have been a goal to the good on 15 minutes. Ryan Bell stood a ball up for Josh Bates, who headed back across goal for George Gaskin but his effort struck the bar from just four yards out.

However, Golds’ player-boss Gaskin made up for that miss with an assist five minutes later. A fine whipped ball from the frontman was met by Landais and he headed past Gary Elliott in Swans’ goal.

The visitors should have been back in the game on 27 minutes. Jack Boxall’s defence-splitting pass found Ross Fraser, with the full-back teeing up Gary Peters but his goalbound strike was blocked by Bates.

Swans continued to push forward and Peters had another great opportunity eight minutes before the break. Joe Warner chased down a lost cause before finding Josie Stakim and he crossed for Peters, whose effort was saved by Golds stopper Jon Hendrick.

Landais doubled Littlehampton’s lead when he bagged his second 20 minutes from time with a curling effort past Elliott.

That strike seemed to open the floodgates and Golds got a third six minutes from time.

Excellent work down the left from Gaskin saw him pick out the unmarked Scott Packer, who poked home from close range.

A fourth was then added three minutes later as a fine dipping effort from Gaskin left Elliott with no chance.

There was still time for Landais to complete his hat-trick when he fired home from Beadle’s cross to set up a quarter-final date with Broadbridge Heath.

Second-placed Swans travel to second-from-bottom Seaford in Division 1 of the Southern Combination League on Saturday.

STORRINGTON: G.Elliott; Fraser, Gibbons, Boxall, Jarvie; S.Elliott, Searle, Rhodie, Peters; Stakim, Warner. Subs: Bester (Stakim), Bouzan (Rhodie), O’Reilly.

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