Sussex Athletic found their first points of the season in a 4–2 win over Llandaff Athletic on Wednesday 29 July. It is a decent result for a side that arrived at Matchday 4 sitting bottom of the table with nothing to their name.

The game began as a tentative affair until the 20th minute, when Fulbert Cornudet scored in open play. It was a rare moment of clarity for a Sussex side that has looked largely out of sorts lately. They doubled their lead six minutes later through Lourival Quinteiro, a man who has spent most of the week providing assists for others (allegedly as a selfless gesture).

Llandaff responded almost immediately. Renaud Bachelard scored in the 26th minute to make it 2–1, a goal that threatened to turn the match into a genuine contest. Sussex, however, had other ideas. Carlinhos Calheiros added a third in the 36th minute, ensuring the home side went into the break with a comfortable 3–1 lead and a sudden, inexplicable sense of confidence.

Llandaff attempted a late recovery. Pietro Tagliaferro pulled one back in the 79th minute after a bit of tidy work from Owain Penllyn, bringing the score to 3–2. For a brief window, it looked as though Llandaff might actually mount a comeback. This hope was extinguished in the 90th minute when Gruffydd Conway-Hughes scored, assisted by Archie Westbrook, to settle the matter at 4–2.

“Carlinhos Calheiros added a third in the 36th minute, ensuring the home side went into the break with a comfortable 3–1 lead and a sudden, inexplicable sense of confidence.”

It was an efficient performance from Sussex, who managed to score four goals despite a general lack of evidence that they know how to do so. Llandaff, continuing their habit of blowing hot and cold, spent most of the afternoon firmly in the cold.

There is little time for Sussex to enjoy the novelty of a win. They turn up again tomorrow for Matchday 5.