Ferry Inn hot-shot Matthew Balmer took just TEN seconds to score, despite the opposition kicking off.

Inn's 23-goal ace opened the scoring against Belle Vue with a low right foot effort and went on to complete his hat-trick in his side's 7-1 win in Sussex Sunday Division Eight.

The 25-year-old estate agent has been finding goals easy to come by this season.

He used to play in the County League with Lancing and Southwick.

Nowadays work commitments mean the marksman only turns out on a Sunday as Division Eight opposition have found out to their cost.

He said: "I scored after only ten seconds. It was their kick-off and Mark Holding won the ball and beat a couple of players before sending in a low cross and I just stroked it past the goalkeeper with my right foot.

"I bought Mark a drink afterwards. It was a real surprise to score so early. I think the opposition were shocked too, that's why we won so easily.

"I've been playing football since I was able to walk and I've never seen a goal scored so quickly."

In the game following the Belle Vue match, Matthew scored with literally the last kick of the game, as the Ferry Inn beat Hoventus 4-3 thanks to Balmer's last-gasp effort.

Manager Justin Cannons said: "On that occasion against Hoventus he couldn't hit a barn door. He must have missed about five or six sitters before he scored.

"His goal against Vue has got to be a record. A lot of it is down to the midfield. Players like Holding have made things easy for Matthew.

"But I must thank all of the players for their efforts this season, they have been superb."

Sussex Sunday League secretary Trevor Gregson was unable to confirm if Balmer's effort was a record.

He explained: "We haven't got any records for the timing of goals. Ten seconds is pretty quick but I am sure someone else has done it in a similar time or faster."

The quickest goal ever according the Guinness Book of Records is credited to a trio of players all of whom have scored on six seconds.

Aldershot's Albert Mundy was quick off the mark when he netted at Hartlepool in 1958, and Notts County's Barry Jones and Crystal Palace's Keith Smith also scored with the same speed against Torquay United and Derby County respectively.

Well done to Matthew for his good sense of timing and we have given the team a case of London Pride to aid their New Year's celebrations.