The Crows made wholesale changes for this fixture to give a few players a rest and some game time for other players against high flying Littlehampton last season’s champions, promoted from Division Two.
The Gold’s, led by the prolific George Gaskin were early in their stride, but play was interrupted by an unfortunate injury, which meant play was held up while the stretcher was called for O’Callaghan’s knee injury.
Crows were then caught cold as, with a suspicion of offside which was denied, the ball was swept past Ben Head by Gaskin who needed no invitation to score.
Crows, with Wayne Clarke’s prompting, tried to respond. Good link up play between Clarke and Tom Cameron made a chance for Tom Boddy which was headed just wide.
Another cross from the left was headed down and wide by Elliot Wood, but just as the Crows looked to be settling, a mix up at the back saw the dangerous Gaskin played in and, although Ben Head got something on the shot, the ball ended up in the net for a second goal for the visitors on sixteen minutes.
Crows raised their game and good link up play between Wood and Saunders left the latter with a good effort which went by the post, Morgan Steadman coming in from the left, tried his luck with a brilliant dipping shot which went just over and Paul Butler hit another shot from range, as the Crows took the game to the visitors.
At two-nil down at the break, the next score was always going to be crucial and any doubts that the Crows had, that it wasn’t going to be their night, were confirmed when Sam Saunders hit a terrific shot that crashed against the bar, with keeper Hendrick well beaten the ball was cleared. Just after that Wayne Clarke intercepted a pass and beat two defenders but his close range effort hit the post to everyone’s frustration. Scott Taylor also went close with another good effort.
Sam Carrington was introduced for Morgan Steadman who had done well but, almost immediately Littlehampton went three – nil up as a cross was inadvertently deflected, very unluckily, past Ben Head by Butler.
Crows tried for a consolation goal and were chasing the game and on another day might have had some joy, but in spite of some good attacking intent from Sam Carrington, and a couple of penalty appeals, it was the visitors who were to progress to the next round. Crows had paid the price for the two early goals conceded but never gave up and, there was always the danger that they would concede further from the visitor’s quick counter attacks.