Talk about a “game of two halves” !!. Given the first forty-five minutes, it was looking like this match would be as stodgy as stale Christmas pudding. Apart from some profligate shooting from both sides, the first half had absolutely nothing to recommend it. With the pitch passed fit for play after an overnight thaw, those players who missed the match would have been grateful as the game turned into one of mis-timed passes, and shooting more often seen at Twickenham, such was the habit of striking shots over the bar. The half ended, inevitably, goal-less, with the vocal crowd sounding less than satisfied with the festive fayre on show.

The second half, however, was a much different beast. Five minutes in and Selsey seemingly denied a legitimate penalty as Max Thoms tumbled in the area. Referee Mr Smalls decided he’d dived, and Thoms picked up a booking, much to the Selsey fans disgust. Further problems for Selsey as Alun Morey’s almost traditional sending off against Pagham came as he was taken to task by Mr Smalls. Pagham went close as Scott Murfin forced Joyce in Selsey’s goal to spill the ball, only to recover and deny the opening goal. Graham Bush then missed an open goal for Selsey, just before they were awarded a penalty. Joe Miles was bought down in the area by former Selsey stalwart Scott Hinshelwood, and Mr Smalls pointed to the spot. Much to the anger of the away fans, Hinshelwood only picked up a booking. Up stepped Max Thoms, and Wes Hallet moved well to collect the ball from what was a poorly taken spot-kick. Selsey stepped up a gear with former lions Calum Britton and Edwin Bowers both testing Wes Hallett. Both teams were down to 10 men on sixty five minutes, as Scott Hinshelwood picked up a second booking. Selsey were awarded another penalty, and this time Bush made no mistake, striking past Wes Hallett. More poor shooting followed as the pitch seemed to be affecting both sides with the result that poor football came to the fore again. Edwin Bowers was possibly unluckiest as he tried time and time again to get the ball passed an acrobatic Wes Hallet. The game ended after an unexplained long period of time added on with Bowers shooting at Wes Hallet

Pagham; W.Hallett, J.Misslebrook, R.Cox, D.Pearce, J.Booker, J.Tribe, R.Woolf, S.Hinshelwood, M.Frangou, S.Murfin, G.Robinson; J.Williamson, M.Hamm, D.Cox, N.Murfin
Selsey; S.Joyce, J.Fallick, O.Haggar, M.Hinshelwood, T.Pointing, M.Thoms, J.Miles, A.Morey, G.Bush, E.Bowers, C.Britton; J.Parsons, M.Norris, B.Covill, R.Chard