Seven goals, four penalties, two red cards...all that was missing was a partridge in a pear tree in a crazy game at the Lashmar. The quality of the football certainly didn’t match the score-line as the sides atop Division 1 and 2 matched each other with the intervention of the referee being the dominant feature. The first quarter of an hour or so saw East Preston much the better side with Lee Garnham and Charlie Oatway stretching Pagham’ defence. Oatway was especially unlucky when his header went narrowly over the bar early on. James Temple was looking lively for the Lions as was Scott Murfin. Murfin could have scored in the first minute when he was put through by Alex Ward. James Temple saw his shot blocked by former Lion Alex Bryant in EP’s goal a few minutes later. The home side thought they’d opened the scoring on seventeen when another former Lion, George Gaskin netted, only to see his goal disallowed for off-side. They did take the lead five minutes later when the first of three penalties was awarded. Lee Garnham was tripped in the area, up stepped Alex Duncan, slotted the spot kick away, 1-0. Not six minutes later another penalty, this time for the Lions. Neil Murfin was the fall-guy, brother Scott Murfin avenging with a well taken penalty. Bookings were starting to come in thick and fast, with Tom Broadbent’s being the most unjust, with a rash tackle from EP’s Alex Duncan on Broadbent seconds earlier being missed. Oatway ran through to strike home, only for Wes Hallett to pull off a great stop. Two minutes into added time, and East Preston were awarded another penalty. Up stepped Alex Duncan to score his, and his side’s second.

Three minutes into the second half and referee Mr Mallows was again in the thick of it. A second booking for Tom Broadbent saw the Lions down to 10 men. Both sides kept attacking, with Matt Axell shooting wide from range, and Charlie Oatway hitting the post from close range. Lee Garnham was unlucky to see his name go into the book on 58, whilst yet another penalty on the hour saw Scott Murfin take revenge for being hacked down in the area. With the score at 2-2, many were wondering what the game still promised. The answer came as three more bookings came and went, two for EP, one for Pagham. The save of the game came on 65 minutes, as Wes Hallett was superb when tipping over a fierce shot from Garnham. The home side went 3-2 up with a Garnham header proving it was possible to score in this game from somewhere other than the penalty spot. The Lions hit the side netting shortly afterwards. They could have equalised as a moment of madness from Bryant saw him lucky to escape with only a booking as he pulled his opponent down. The free-kick resulted in Pagham’s third goal, an awesome strike from youngster Dan Simmonds. George Gaskin’s free-kick at the other end had neither the power nor the accuracy as Wes Hallett collected the ball with ease. East Preston found themselves down to 10 men on 84 minutes, as Lee Barnard collected his second booking of the game. The winner came with three minutes of normal time left, another stunner from Dan Simmonds. Almost inevitably, there was still time for another couple of bookings as the whistle finally went on a see-saw cup tie.

Pagham; W.Hallett, R.Buckland, T.Broadbent, D.Pearce, A.Ward, P.Jones (M.Frangou 26), S.Hinshelwood, N.Murfin, J.Temple, S.Murfin, K.Urquhart (D.Simmonds 26); Subs not used R.Cox, G.Robinson
East Preston; A.Bryant, A.Duncan, L.Gibbs, L.Barnard, S Di Paola, N.O’Hagan, J.Clark, C.Oatway, G.Gaskin, L.Garnham, M.Axell; J.Meeny, P.Brown