Pagham find you win some, you lose some (and draw some)

Littlehampton Town 1 Pagham 0

Sussex League division one

Two of the top three contested a derby which saw the Marigolds take all three points and create a gap at the top of division one and the Lions slip to fourth with their first defeat in five games.

The Lions without a full back-line as Jake Hawker, Alfie Bunker, Tom Broadbent and Lee Bradshaw all missed out.

Rob Brown turned from goal-poacher to goal-stopper as he slotted into a rejigged Lions defence.

A goalless first half had little to commend it as both sides were hamstrung by a match official who dominated proceedings, an endless stream of free-kicks failing to allow free-flowing football.

Scott Packer was a constant thorn in the Lions’ paws and his crosses brought James Binfield into action. The Pagham keeper had a superb game, even after suffering a hand injury early on in a two-footed tackle by an opponent.

A booking for ex-Lion Jack Bingham for a challenge on Josh Clack was one of many yellows, not all of them warranted.

Micheal Asare replaced Ruben French after the break as Gary Block looked to shake things up. This almost paid immediate dividends as Asare set off on a run, sliding the ball to Ryan Morey, who then moved it to Clack. The shot from Clack was charged down.

Only a fine double save from Jon Hendrick robbed Robbie Wimble of a goal after some great approach play from him and Clack.

Disaster struck for the Lions on 68 minutes as Rob Brown picked up a second booking as he bought down his opponent on the edge of the area. The free-kick went wide.

Although down to ten men, Pagham kept going. A superb tip over from Binfield on 74 minutes from a long through-ball was tarnished when the Marigolds went ahead a minute later as a header from Josh Bates flew into the net.

Pagham worked the ball into Littlehampton’s area and when Scott Murfin was bundled over, many Lions fans expected a penalty. But Murfin didn’t protest too much and the game continued.

In the last minute Hendrick was forced to smother the ball from a Lions’ corner.

PAGHAM: Binfield, A Brown, French (Asare 45), Davidson, R Brown, O’Connor, Clack (Hamilton 85), Coleman-Carr, Wimble, S Murfin, R Morey. Subs: Garnett, Maskell, Richer.

JON ROSE

A double by Scott Murfin earned the Lions a 2-2 draw at Newhaven on Tuesday night.

Alex Jasper had to rearrange his Pagham Reserves team for their Sussex Intermediate Cup second-round match at home to Phoenix United as players were called up for first-team duty.

The younsters he brought in didn’t let him down against a side that was unbeaten.

A fine run by full-back Scott Rafferty was rewarded when he found space to stroke home on nine minutes. On 40 minutes Luke Rose pulled the visitors’ defence apart for Sam Connolly rifled the ball home.

The game was put beyond the visitors as Sam Dowsett bagged a double in the 51st and 60th minutes to put the hosts into the next round.

Jasper said he was pleased with the way the youngsters responded on their debuts.