ST BRELADE Sports Club midfielder Liam Sutton scored direct from the kick-off last night in a 2-1 JFA Willis Cup defeat by Jersey Nomads at Les Quennevais.

The Saints claim that the ball entered the goal within seconds.

Saints Reserve-team manager Brian McBride said: ‘It’s certainly the quickest goal I’ve ever seen.

The referee blew his whistle and Liam ran in and hit the ball forward.

I don’t think the goalkeeper had adjusted to the lights and the ball flew over his head.

‘It was a great start for us but Nomads came back to deservedly win.

We almost took them to extra-time but the goalkeeper made three excellent saves late on.

‘Both sides played some excellent football and I was pleased with the performances of my team as we fielded three juniors.’ Nomads goalkeeper Chris Eaton said: ‘It was a speculative punt from the kick-off and I lost the ball in the lights.

It’s as simple as that.’ Paul Lees and Ben Doherty were on target for the Nomads, the winners who now play Beeches Old Boys in the second round at Les Quennevais on Tuesday 18 October.

Previous quick goals in Jersey were netted by Trinity’s Jimmy Reilly – claimed at two seconds – in a Charity Cup match in 2003 while former Grands Vaux and Jersey Scottish player Eddie Mitchell, playing for St John, netted directly from the kick off against Sporting Club Franูais in a Combination Division II match in 1999.

The change in the laws that season allowed direct shots from the kick-off and Mitchell, a powerful centre-forward, smashed a high shot over the startled goalkeeper Ian Bell at Les Quennevais.