A GREEN parliamentary candidate will be hoping for as much success in the ballot box as he had in the 18-yard-box after winning a penalty shoot-out.

Lewes candidate Alfie Stirling got one over his political rivals when he became the only scorer in a sudden death penalty shoot-out at Lewes FC on Saturday earning himself a minute to address the crowd in the process.

His rivals for the Lewes constituency, Conservative Maria Caulfield, Lib Dem Norman Baker, Labour’s Lloyd Russell Moyle and Ukip’s Ray Finch, all failed with both their attempts during half-time of the Rooks’ game against Leatherhead at The Dripping Pan on Saturday.

Mr Stirling admitted he had a slight advantage over his rivals having played as a youngster for Kingston Kestrels and for his university team but admitted to his disappointment at hitting the bar with his first attempt.

He said: “We were all suitably hopeless but fortunately I was less hopeless.

“It was first and foremost a laugh but it was also really good that the club reached out in this way to bring politics into a different arena and a different setting.

“Our campaign is going really well, our party membership has tripled locally in the last year, we have a very good prospective of getting district councillors in Lewes and building up good momentum for the general election.”