Penalty progress for Loxwood after Saltdean muster comeback

The Magpies looked to be easing through to face Pagham in the last eight when they raced into a 3-0 half-time lead against Saltdean United.

But the division-lower league leaders had different ideas and fought back to level terms in the second half, before the Magpies won the shoot-out 4-2.

In just the third minute, Michael Wood received the ball in the area and drew a rash challenge which resulted in a penalty and Mark Cave duly stepped up to dispatch it.

Six minutes later it was 2-0 as a run and shot from Tom Summerfield was saved, but Toby House followed up to slot home the rebound.

With just a third of the half gone, Summerfield and House combined again at pace for the latter to notch his seventh cup goal of the season so far and 12th over all.

The visitors gave themselves a hope when Liam O’Brien was left unmarked to head home a corner in the 29th minute, before Harrison Hilfiker made a superb stop just before half-time to preserve the Magpies’ two-goal lead.

After just two minutes of the second half, another set-piece was finished by Andy McDowell to haul Saltdean well and truly back into the match. On the hour mark, Rickie Mitchell got to a well-delivered cross and bundled the ball over the line.

Both teams had opportunities to win it in normal time as House had an effort go just wide, whilst Scott Marshall blazed over for United after a neat lay-off.

Hilfiker denied a complete turnaround late on with two big clearing punches from successive corners as extra-time loomed. The additional period proved fairly event less, apart from a late House chance saw him fire wide and the clash go to penalties.

Sam Beard stepped up to net the first and Hilfiker denied Nick Fogden’s effort, before Joel Colbran put the hosts 2-0 up. McDowell hit the post and new signing Matt Daniel made it 3-0 ahead of Ollie Rowlands netting Saltdean’s first from the spot.

Byron Napper blazed over the bar and George Walls converted to make it 3-2, before House netted the winning penalty.

Loxwood: Hilfiker, French (Colbran 75), Scally, Jacques, Bachelor (Enticknap 69), Beard, Cave (Daniel 63), Napper, Summerfield, Wood, House.

MATT CAMP

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