A 4-1 win ensured Pagham roared into round three of the RUR cup and a meeting with table-topping Whitehawk next week. Gary Block was able to restore James Heller to the starting line-up after the latter’s long injury lay-off. Brett Forden dropped to the bench. Pagham were under the cosh for the early part of the game, Broadbridge’s Nathan Sleat showing some neat touches. Pagham could have gone ahead though in the eleventh minute when visiting ‘Keeper James McGrath made a hash of catching the ball, only for a defender to make a desparate clearance. The first goal came just after the quarter hour as Michael Frangou struck home from a right sided cross. Pagham looked to press on for a second just as Broadbridge scored in controversial circumstances. Broadbridge’s Peter Sweet looked yards offside as Chris Manvell shot passed Rob McLelland in the Pagham goal. This prompted a period of pressure from ‘Heath as they sensed an upset of sorts. Pagham’s Rob Wimble almost restored the lead on the half hour, only for the ball to be whipped from his feet as he shaped to shoot. Dan Martin contrived to shoot over for Pagham just before ‘Heath skipper Martyn Flack did the same at the other end of the pitch. This proved to be the last meaningful action of the half.

Neither side made changes at half time, with Wimble again at the centre of things two minutes in. A free-kick saw the ball land at his feet, but he struck just over. Sean Towers saw referee Mr Pike to fish out his book on fifty minutes, but in the end the official thought a talking to was sufficient after a robust tackle. The resultant Broadbridge free-kick almost saw Pagham regain the lead. The ball was cleared to the Broadbridge area, and Rob Wimble’s defence splitting pass was pounced upon by Ashley Hunter. His shot went wide, but the intent was there. Worried looks on the Pagham bench on 56 minutes as James Heller went down in the area. Pagham physio Colin Mills rushed onto the pitch like a St Bernard dog to the rescue, but thankfully it was just cramp. Pagham were being pushed back a little, and a break frm Matt Slater almost squeezed an opening for ‘Heath. Kieron Urquhart came on with 20 minutes to go, as the match-rusty Heller took a rest. Pagham’s second goal came on seventy five minutes. Excellent work by Ashley Hunter allowed Rob Wimble to strike home. The restart saw Broadbridge Heath force a free-kick on the right of the Pagham area. That the ball struck the defensive wall rather than the net was an indication of how ‘Heath’s afternoon was going. The Lions went further ahead with nine minutes left. Ashley Hunter was again the provider as Michael Frangou scored his second of the game with a looping header over the ‘keeper. Double substitutions for Pagham saw Rob Wimble and Ashley Hunter leave the pitch to be replaced by Dan Jones and Brett Forden. Both these two had an immediate impact. Forden put Jones through, only for the latter to scuff his header. AS the minutes ticked down toward the end of the game, Broadbridge supplied the two last scoring chances, at both ends of the pitch. Paul White’s speculative shot troubled no-one in the Pagham area, whilst Nathan Sleat scored the fifth goal of the game. Both he and James McGrath had a communication problem when Sleat headed powerfully passed his own ‘keeper to give Pagham a convincing victory.