Lavant anything but steady against Stedham

Three early goals in ten minutes by Stedham put them on the way to a 5-2 victory over Lavant.

Within two minutes, unmarked Christian Jones acrobatically fired home Lewis Hamilton’s cross from seven yards.

Two minutes later a free-kick from the left was palmed by Lavant keeper Ash Rochester into the path of Nathan Castleton. Despite Lavant players around him he remained unchallenged to lash in the second.

The third was an innocuous-looking curling shot from 22 yards which somehow eluded the keeper.

Lavant woke up and had a spell of passing football. They pulled one back when Loversidge skipped two players and set Ryan Seacombe up to score on 21 minutes.

Two minutes later, James Brooks brilliantly switched play to release Dave Knight on the right. The winger managed a repeat performance of the goal’s build-up but Seacombe shot over.

A Lavant goal then would have changed the game but instead, from a Stedham corner, the home side restored their lead when Brian Young headed home.

Despite pressure Lavant could not crack the home defence.

On a counter-attack, the excellent Nick Plater added Stedham’s fifth.

Lavant broke through again when Brooks scored their second.

Lavant manager David Parker said: “We have the potential of a good side, but though we play well in possession we are rubbish defensively – an area we must work on.”

LAVANT: Rochester, Coe, Stevens, Wright, Fogden, Knight, Brooks, Kennard, Cowell, Loversidge, Seacombe. Subs: Eastwood, Walsh, Parker.