Shoreham's title charge to go down to the final day

Burton’s effort on the hour helped Mussels to a 1-0 win over Pagham at Middle Road.

Shoreham started the day in second - trailing league leaders Haywards Heath by a point - needing to avoid defeat to keep their title ambitions alive.

Heath sealed a 3-1 home victory over Loxwood, meaning a loss for Mussels would have seen Shaun Saunders’ team crowned champions.

Shoreham boss Bryan O’Toole was pleased with the clinical edge shown by his team on Saturday and said: “We’ve taken it down to the final day and that’s all I asked the players.

“It still feels like we’ve thrown it away, even if we do win it I don’t think I’d have the same feeling as I would have done.

“We were really good against Pagham, you can see why they are on a good run at the minute, but we minimised their threat.

“It’s out of our hands and that is not what we wanted, all we can do going into this game is make sure we take all three points.

“I can’t see Haywards Heath dropping points, but you never know, it’s just about us putting the pressure on them.”

Mussels were quick out of the blocks and could have been two up inside five minutes.

Burton - who was handed a start after Rob O’Toole pulled out in the warm-up - headed over from close-range, he then fired wide when through on goal as it remained scoreless.

Kevin Keehan’s fierce drive from the edge of the area was kept out by James Binfield in Pagham’s goal on the half-hour, before Joe Dryer flashed a strike wide.

The decisive effort came on the hour as Burton slotted past Binfield.

Shoreham pushed for a second in the closing stages but it ended 1-0.

Mussels now must win at Arundel on the final day to have any hope of overhauling the one-point deficit between themselves and leaders Haywards Heath.

Should Heath either lose or draw in their final game of the season at Horsham YMCA - a team that have beaten Shoreham twice this season - Mussels will be crowned champions.

Mussels boss Bryan O’Toole just wants his side to control what they can.

He added: “We just need to win our game and wait and see. It’s annoying and I take the blame myself for wasting the lead that we had.

“We are still in contention with a game to go and a win could well be enough. I’ve told the players not to worry about what is going on in the other game, we just need to beat Arundel and wait and see what happens.”

SHOREHAM: Heyburn; Hartley, O’Hagan, Pearson, Packer; J.Keehan, K.Keehan, Shelley; Burton, Pamment, Dryer. Subs: Donaldson (Burton), Laing (Donaldson), Caplin, Storrie, R.O’Toole.

Don't miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you'll be amongst the first to know what's going on.

1) Make our website your homepage at www.shorehamherald.co.uk/2) Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ShorehamHerald

3) Follow us on Twitter @Shoreham_Herald4) Register with us by clicking on 'sign in' (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don't miss out!

The Shoreham Herald - always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.