LITTLEHAMPTON Town’s boss has revealed what he said on the sideline to the opposition manager in the closing stages of their FA Vase Final defeat.

The Buckinghamshire side scored a lovely goal in the first half thanks to Kieran Barnes, before adding two more in the second to come out 3-0 victors.

Joint manager Mitchell Hand exchanged words with Newport Pagnell Town’s manager Gary Flinn in the last 10 minutes of their defeat on Sunday.

Hand said: “I said to Gary I wanted him to enjoy it, one of us was going to be a winner, one of us was going to be a loser. But we’re both going through the same experience.

The Argus: Newport Pagnell players after Kieran Barnes opened the scoring. Picture from PANewport Pagnell players after Kieran Barnes opened the scoring. Picture from PA

“I said to him ‘don’t worry about anything at the end, shaking hands with our lads. Just go and enjoy yourself with your fans, you deserve it.’

“I had a really good conversation with him, it’s important to take losing as well as you possibly can but also appreciate the fact you have been beaten by a better side on the day and I really can take that, they were brilliant.

“I hope they went on to have a good night.”

Littlehampton Town are the first side in Sussex history to reach an FA Vase Final and Hand said they could be proud of their achievements regardless of their defeat at Wembley.

The Argus: Littlehampton players applaud their fans at the end. Picture from PA Littlehampton players applaud their fans at the end. Picture from PA

The Marigolds won the Southern Combination Football League Premier, meaning they will play in the Isthmian South next season.

They also won the Peter Bentley Cup with a victory over Newhaven at Horsham’s ground on Sunday, May 15.

Hand’s side have one more fixture to play in the RUR Charity Cup Final at Culver Road in Lancing against Saltdean tomorrow night on Wednesday, May 25.

The Argus: Mitchell Hand with defender Alex Duncan after winning the semi-final. Picture from Littlehampton Town FCMitchell Hand with defender Alex Duncan after winning the semi-final. Picture from Littlehampton Town FC

The Marigolds' cup journey started back in October in the first round where they beat Moneyfields 3-2. Since then, the Marigolds have edged past Deal Town and Sheppey United 2-1 and 1-0 respectively.

They lost 5-0 away to London-based Newham on January 15, but were reinstated after the home side fielded an ineligible player.

Littlehampton Town beat Brockenhurst 4-1 in the fifth round on penalties after a 3-3 draw in normal time on February 12. The quarter-final saw them beat North Shields after a late winner 79 minutes in on March 12.

They beat Loughborough Students 4-0 on April 2 in the semi-final.