Pagham got back to winning ways with, in the end, a convincing win over visitors AFC Uckfield. Uckfield had drawn 2-2 in midweek against Rye United who only two points behind the Lions at start of play. So, a win was important to ensure the gap was kept at the top of the table...The game commenced with an impeccably observed minutes silence for those lost in theatres of war. Following this sombre start, the game opened up into quite a contest. With the Lions missing Tom Broadbent through suspension to add to a lengthy injury list, Neil Murfin took an unfamiliar place in defence. On the bench Lewis Hyde appeared following his move from Midhurst.Attacking play from both sides in the first ten minutes or so, with James Temple heading wide for Pagham, Chris Gould being robbed of an Uckfield goal by a great clearance from Scott Hinshelwood and a strike from Howard Neighbour that Uckfield ‘keeper Shayne Goldsmith did well to tip over. The Lions scored their first from a free-kick. Scott Murfin was bundled over and he extracted his revenge with a shot which took a wicked deflection on its way into the net. The Lions then went for the jugular, attacking in waves, with a second “goal” from Hinshelwood being disallowed for offside. Uckfield themselves fell foul of the offside trap on more than one occasion as the game degenerated for a spell into a show of “kick and rush”. The visitors equalised from the penalty spot with the referee again being the subject of derision from the watching crowd. Pagham were rocked by the equaliser, but did find openings for Murfin and Temple before the half time whistle went.

With news filtering through at half time that Rye were in the lead against Chichester City Utd, Carl Stabler’s Lions knew a win was imperative if they were to keep their lead at the top of the table. Uckfield had other ideas, as they poured forward in a concerted effort to match the 6-1 drubbing they dished out to Pagham in last season’s RUR cup. Joe Booker and Matt Wood had to be at their best to clear the lines for Pagham, with Gould putting aside his yellow card to strike powerfully into the side netting. Pagham dragged the game back, with James Temple scoring the second with a strong header from a sublime Pip Turner cross. This seemed to rattle Uckfield, and the third goal came a matter of minutes later. Joe Booker opening his season’s account with a cracking volley. Uckfield’s Gould was proving a real handful, but his best shot bothered the roosting seagulls above the goal more than Wes Hallett. The game ended as it began, with Pagham attacking, only for Matt Wood to see his shot go awry.

Pagham; W.Hallett, N.Murfin (G.Robinson 72), B.Buckland, D.Pearce, J.Booker, S.Hinshelwood, P.Turner, M.Wood, J.Temple, S.Murfin (Frangou 78), H.Neighbour (D.Simmonds 73); Subs not used L.Hyde, J.Price
AFC Uckfield;S.Goldsmith, J.Divall, S.Scalen, B.Dartnal, G.Manton, D.Pollard, C.Gould, B.Manton, A.Dowell, S.Davis, J.Dryer; R.Knight, J.Rhodes, D.Grenall, T.Porter