Pagham ensured the lights went out on Midhurst as the Lions won an action packed cup tie at Nyetimber Lane. With the original tie being re-arranged following floodlight problems, the promise of Ryman league Worthing in the next round shed new light on the importance of the game. The Stags had the first chance of a goal when a third minute strike from Marcus Williams was hacked away by Neil Murfin. Luke Sheldrake was next on target for the visitors, ducking and diving to strike a shot which Matt Wood did well to clear. Gary Souch in Midhursts goal could have let Pagham in on the quarter hour, a fumbled take almost giving the lions the lead. They did open the scoring a few minutes later, Scott Murfin’s shot evading Midhursts packed defence and Souch for a deserved goal. Back came Midhurst, with Breckman’s cross-cum-shot snaking across goal. Martin May went nuts at his defensive colleagues as a Pagham strike was desparately cleared off the line with the home side looking purposeful. All this good work was undone on the half hour as Paul Jones bought down Breckman in the area. Referee Mr Moore pointed to the spot and up stepped James Glue to stick the ball in the back of the net. Neil Murfin was having the game of his life at the back, and his heroics again rescued Pagham when Marcus Williams’ dangerous ball in threatened Wes Hallett’s goal. With five minutes of the first half left, the Lions went 2-1 up. A well placed free-kick from Ryan Cox met the head of Paul Jones, who made no mistake to give the Lions the lead at half time.

No changes for either side at the break, and Pagham attacked from the off. Matt Wood got involved in a penalty area melee, but Midhurst’s defence held firm. He tried again from range, the shot being charged down. Play was all with Pagham now, James Temple striking over the bar, and Charlie Marshall testing Souch from range. Twice more Pagham shot over the bar before getting their third goal. An in-swinging corner was met by Paul Jones who doubled his tally for the game. The visitors could have got a goal back on sixty eight minutes. A penalty awarded for something and nothing was hit well enough, but Wes Hallett athletically saved the spot kick, and Pagham’s blushes. A flurry of substitutions for Pagham saw Paul Jones and Ryan Cox go off to be replaced by Jordon Tribe and Greg Robinson as the Lions looked to just preserve their lead. The Lions kept up the pressure, Matt Wood again chancing his arm with a long range shot, before Alex Kew saw his tremendous shot tipped onto the bar by Souch. This was the last meaningful action in a game Pagham deserved to win by some distance.

Pagham; W.Hallett;S.Hinshelwood, R.Cox, D.Pearce, P.Jones, M.Wood, C.Marshall, N.Murfin, J.Temple, S.Murfin, A.Kew; J.Williamson, J.Tribe, G.Robinson, J.Misslebrook, J.Price