Pagham came back from a goal down to roar into the preliminary round of the FA Cup. Their Kent Premier League opposition were simply no match as the rampant lions went on a goal spree that ensured another trip to Kent against Faversham in the next round. Lordswood themselves play Selsey in the FA Vase in a couple of weeks. On this performance, Ian Martin’s side will be looking forward to Lordswood’s visit. Starting with Michael Frangou and Scott Murfin up front, Carl Stabler’s side were in on goal from the off. James Misslebrook went closest, with a header over from a corner. DannY Cook for the home side repeated the feat at the other end, and Lordswood were looking a little dangerous at this stage of the game. James Misslebrook was again involved when a defensive slip-up forced him to scramble the ball away. When the opening goal came, it was almost gifted to the home side. A defensive error let in Matt McHugh, and he could hardly miss as the ball shot past an apoplectic Wes Hallett. The home side then tried to force the pace, although Dexley Fidyk’s shot went horribly wide just before the half hour. It had taken Pagham little over quarter of an hour to fashion an equaliser, as a cross from the right was headed home by George Gaskin. Sean Funnell got steamed up in Lordswood’s goal, but in truth his defence was less to blame than he was for the goal. The Lions then went two up within five minutes as a screaming strike from Michael Frangou whistled passed the diving Funnell. The Lions then bared their teeth as they went on an all out assault on Lordswood’s goal. They came closest from a free-kick which Adam Hooper did well to scramble away. Pagham went three up with a goal which was as farcical as it was effective. Funnell cleared the ball out, not noticing Michael Frangou stood in the way, and the ball rebounded off Frangou’s backside into the goal much to the hilarity of the Pagham fans, and the ire of the Lordswood crowd. This was to prove only the icing on the cake of a man of the match performance from Frangou, a force to be reckoned with up front. The first half ended with the chuckles from the Pagham fans still ringing in Funnell’s ears.

Lordswood boss Jason Lillis laid into his team at half time, but to little avail, as Pagham started the second half much as the first, dominating the play. Their fourth came as the latest in a succession of fouls on Scott Murfin saw the diminutive striker bought down in the area. Referee MrEnglish had no hesitation in pointing to the spot, and Murfin gained his revenge by smacking the ball into the centre of the goal for a showcase penalty goal. This stirred Lordswood into action, with Jamie Humphris striking the ball just wide of Wes Hallett’s upright , and offsides at either end of the pitch. A free-kick for the home side was scrambled away as they moved further and further into Pagham territory. Carl Stabler chose to take off Neil Murfin and bring on Ruben French to give some height to the midfield and wrest control back from Lordswood. He’d been on the pitch some two minutes before a stinging shot was only just dealt with by Funnell. Alex Kew’s excellent efforts were rewarded as the 16 year old took a well earned rest to be replaced by Greg Robinson with twenty minutes to go. Echoing Ruben Fench, Robinson had only been on a couple of minutes himself before trying his luck only to see his shot scrambled away. In between times, Lordswood sub Rob Norman had managed to test Wes Hallett, but the Pagham ‘keeper was equal to the task, saving with ease. Scott Murfin was left to score the fifth. A corner was swung in, not dealt with by Lordswood’s defence, and Murfin made no mistake shooting into the centre of the net. Lordswood kept at it, forcing a good save from Hallett in the dying minutes, but the final say was from Pagham’s attack, George Gaskin shooting just wide.

Pagham; W.Hallett, J.Misslebrook, A.Weir, D.Pearce, S.Boston, J.Booker, G.Gaskin, N.Murfin, M.Frangou, S.Murfin, A.Kew; L.Bradshaw, R.French, M.Rodway