The Magpies went into this test against a recently strengthened Littlehampton side buoyed by their win at Arundel the previous Saturday, but the match looked in doubt just before kick-off as heavy rainfall in the preceding hour saw the Plaistow Road pitch showing standing water. Credit though to the grounds staff, along with the helping hands from our visitors, as with a mere 5 minute delay the match got underway, which saw the hosts make only one change from 7 days ago with the injured Harvey Enticknap being replaced by the returning Jon Dollery.​

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​7' Michael Wood fires home both his and our second (2-0)

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​The delayed kick off didn't stop the Magpies flying out of the traps though. In the third minute Mark Cave slipped the ball to Michael Wood who calmly stepped inside before curling the ball in off the far post to give the hosts the lead from 18 yards.

​And only four minutes later the pair combined again after Jon Dollery had made some excellent ground down the left. Receiving the ball on the edge of the box to the right of goal, Wood took aim and smashed an effort past Luke Hutchings in the Littlehampton goal to double the lead and it was no more than the Magpies deserved after a high pressure start and saw Wood bag himself a brace in consecutive matches and take his season's tally to nine in all competitions.

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Unfortunately Wood's afternoon was curtailed moments later when he was caught from behind to thwart his hat-trick chance and had to be replaced by Cecil Jee. It was long before the hosts were forced into their second substitution due to injury as Toby House fell victim to the more robust approach that the visitors were adopting to try and get a foothold in the match.

​The Magpies did well to ensure that their momentum wasn't halted though and just after the half hour mark they furthered their lead. A free kick across goal from Cave following a foul on Joel Colbran was missed by Matt Daniel, Eddie French and Clyde Jacques before Jee finally took advantage at the far post and stabbed the ball home from close range.

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​32' Cecil Jee stabs home from close range to make it 3-0

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Colbran was finding a lot of joy down the right hand side and in the 42nd minute he got away again before delivering an excellent ball into the box but Jee, despite getting up well, couldn't direct his header on target. The visitor's did finally get some joy with a minute of normal time to go in the half though. Lewis Scally was adjudged to have committed a foul in a high 50/50, and was also booked in the process, but from the resulting free kick the ball broke to Mitchell Hand who shot fiercely across goal. Although Jack Foyster in the Loxwood goal did well to parry the effort the ball went straight to George Gaskin who tapped the ball into the unguarded net to make it 3-1 despite claims that he was in an offside position. The sustained injuries during the half meant plenty of added time and Jee nearly restored the three goal advantage when Cave and Colbran combined to put him in but he couldn't get a meaningful shot away and the resulting clearance ushered the half time whistle. 

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​54' Clyde Jacques stoops to glance his header in for 4-1

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The Magpies were keen to start the second half strongly, conscious of the boost the visitors had received just before the break, and they did just that. First Jee got away down the inside-right channel but Hutchings did well to block his effort from a tight angle. Then in the 53rd minute French flicked on a cross to Colbran who unleashed a vicious left foot volley that clipped the bar.

​Finally, a minute later, the pressure told. Dollery and Jay Lovett combined well to recycle a corner and the latter then delivered a perfect in-swinging cross that Jacques was able to guide into the bottom corner for what was the big defender's sixth goal of the season already. 

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The hosts were nearly guilty of handing back some of the initiative straight away though as Littlehampton went straight up the other end to force a corner, from which Ross McKay rose unchallenged to head goalwards by Foyster comfortably tipped it over. Three minute later though it was deja-vu with Liam O'Connor this time meeting a well delivered corner but Foyster was equal to it again although this save was far more impressive. The young 'keeper couldn't prevent the next visiting attack though as Gaskin got in behind the back line and calmly rounded Foyster as he closed the angle before neatly slotting home to make it 4-2 and it could have been even worse for the home side 4 minutes later.

​Jacques was adjudged to have fouled Gaskin when the experienced forward went down in the box and he duly picked himself up to take the resulting spot kick, but Foyster got his revenge as he flung himself to his right to beat away what was a well struck penalty much to the delight of the Plaistow Road faithful. That moment appeared to knock the stuffing out of the visitors' recovery effort and from then on it appeared to be a case of if and when the lead could be extended by the hosts.

​Hutchings had to be at his brave best to deny Jee from close range in the 68th minute after a goalmouth scrambled ensued following a dangerous Cave cross. In the 77th minute Scally went down in the box following a challenge by Jake Chaplin but neither the referee nor the nearby assistant saw any infringement. Five minutes later substitute Matt Daniel a great chance to open his account for the club when he benefitted from yet more excellent work by Dollery on the left, but he could only find the side netting with his drive. It was Scally's opportunity for glory in the 84th minute when Jee retained his composure on the counter-attack to square the ball to him but he could only blaze the ball over the bar when unchallenged, much to his own disgust.

​Despite all this pressure Foyster nearly scuppered his excellent performance by gifting Jack Cole a chance at goal following a mis-placed goal kick, but the visiting number 11 could only strike the woodwork. That was all that the south coast team could muster although there was still time for more action at the other end. In the 89th minute Cave showed great composure after being found by Byron Napper to curl an effort that appeared bound for the far corner but somehow Josh Bates got back to clear it with his 'keeper beaten. And in the third minute of added time Jee turned well in the area but could only shoot straight at the grateful Hutchings and that would prove to be the final action.

​This was rumbustious affair in very heavy conditions, but the Magpies showed excellent tempo straight from the kick off to seize control of the match and then impressive character to overcome the subsequent gameplan of the opposition to secure another three points on a day when those around them in the table didn't fair as well and ahead of next week's trip to Eastbourne United who currently sit two places above them.  

Team: Cave, Colbran, Dollery, Foyster, French, House (Daniel 19), Jacques, Lovett, Napper, Scally & Wood (Jee 16)
Subs not used: ​Hilfiker & Pitcher
​Lacey & Son Man Of The Match: ​Lewis Scally

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