Scott Murfin’s second half hat-trick will take the headlines, but this was a case of the visitors running into a Pagham side shot through with confidence and quality. Following the narrow mid-week win against Shoreham, the Lions made no mistake this time as they put EBUA to the sword. It took all of nine minutes for the first goal to go in, with Ross Woolf’s industry presenting James Temple with an easy chance. EBUA fought back, and but for Wes Hallett in the Lions goal, could have been 2-1 up within a couple of minutes. The second goal was something of a rarity, being scored direct from a corner. Tom Broadbent wasn’t complaining though as Adam Sargent in EBUA’s goal berated his troops for lack of concentration. Shots begain to rain in at either end, with the Lions perhaps being the more guilty of off-target strikes. They were still the superior side though, and were unlucky with a succession of off-side decisions that went against them. One such event saw them denied what looked a legitimate goal on the stroke of half time. Two-nil up at the break, the Lions were hungry for more goals in the second half.

Paul Jones had to be at his most alert two minutes in as a free-kick for the visitors was headed off the line by the tall Pagham defender. Both Phil Turner and Ross Woolf were having superb games on the wings, but it was Ben Buckland who supplied the cross for the third goal, James Temple again being in the right place at the right time. Double substitutions for Pagham on the hour mark, Scott Murfin and Michael Frangou coming on for Dan Simmonds and Ross Woolf. Wes Hallett had to be at his best to save from Calum Holles as the visitors still looked to get back into the game. Frangou thought he’d added a fourth on sixty three minutes, only for the off-side flag to be raised. No such misfortune a minute later as he made sure this time to increase the lead. Calum Holles was proving something of a nuisance for Pagham as the diminutive forward tested Wes Hallett again and again. His team however went further behind on seventy minutes as Frangou’s good approach play allowed Scott Murfin to strike home. Five minutes later Murfin did all the work himself to make it six of the best as Pagham showed no sign of easing up. The visitors Jamie Bunn thought scoring would be a piece of cake, but his shot was stopped by a stupendous save from Wes Hallett. Goal number seven came with five minutes of normal play left. Again Scott Murfin went on a solo run, shooting low and hard past a despairing Sargent. Just time for Phil Turner to hit the bar for Pagham before the whistle went on another comprehensive Pagham win.

Pagham;W.Hallett, B.Buckland, T.Broadbent, D.Pearce, A.Ward, P.Jones, P.Turner, N.Murfin, J.Temple, D.Simmonds, R.Woolf;M.Frangou, M.Wood, G.Robinson, J.Price
Eastbourne Utd AFC; A.Sargent, D.Starnes, B.Hughes, L.Jules, S.Lee, S.Stracey, J.Bunn, D.Smart, D.Bateman, O.Lee, N.Barden;C.Holles, S.Hardie, B.Gatensby