Pagham’s first team season ended on a low note, as visitors Sidley took the game to the Lions and were, in the end, worthy winners. Starting the game with the presentation of Supporters’ Player of The Year to defensive stalwart Paul Jones, the Lions ended the game losing, but knowing they’d made massive strides this season both on and off the pitch. Liam Miles went close within the first five minutes, Ryan Cox hacking away the incoming shot. Joe Booker headed away another strike as Sidley laid siege on Pagham’s goal. The Lions then suddenly found some impetus, with Greg Robinson trying his luck from a Scott Murfin cross. Bourne held onto a Murfin strike moments later. End to end play as Sidley raced down to the other end, pinging the ball across Wes Hallet’s goal. Kevin Bird ruffled a few Pagham feathers with his long range effort, whilst James Temple headed just wide for the home side. Drama for Sidley on the half hour as skipper Danny Spice went down injured just outside his own area.Although stretchered off, he came back on within a few minutes to resume his duties. Tremendous work by Scott Murfin down the left could have seen Pagham ahead, only for assistant ref Duncan Carter to wave frantically for offside. More goal-mouth action as opportunities came and went at both ends. With less than five minutes of the half left, Sidley took the lead. Kevin Barden raced into the area for Sidley, only for a stray Pagham leg to catch him. Down he went, and referee Mr Slaney had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Sean Kelly tucked away the penalty with some ease.

The second half began with Paul “Jonah” Jones proving to be anything but a jinx as his goal-line clearance stopped Sidley going further ahead. James Temple then tried his luck, but Sidley’s defender repeated Jones’ on-the-line heroics. Joe Booker struck the ball over the bar, before another penalty may have been awarded. Down went Scott Murfin, but referee Mr Slaney was having none of it. Sidley’s second goal came in equally controversial circumstances. With echoes of 1966 and a Russian Linesman, assistant referee Duncan Carter was again the villain of the piece as he flagged to give a goal which looked as if it might have been hooked off the line. Two-nil down and all thoughts of second place in Division One evaporated in the spring sunshine. The Lions unleashed the Woolf on the hour mark, but he was to last all of three minutes before he fell clutching what looked like a dislocated shoulder. Colin Mills bounded on like a somewhat excitable hippo to tend to the stricken Pagham man. The treatment worked, and Woolf was able to carry on. A flurry of substitutions as Carl Stabler looked to try and get back into a game which was starting to become more and more equal. With just over a quarter hour left, Pagham scored a sneaky goal. A free-kick on the right was arrowed into the area, and Joe Booker’s back-heel bamboozled Bourne, with the goal setting up a grandstand last period of play. Neil Murfin’s industry almost gave the Lions an equaliser, but his pass to Jack Williamson saw the latter scuff his shot. Kevin Bird hit wide, whilst a succession of Pagham corners could have seen a deserved equaliser. Paul Jones was certainly repaying the fans’ accolades as he again cleared the lines for the Lions. A brace of unnecessary bookings late on, with both Scott and Neil Murfin seeing yellow and doing nothing to improve Pagham’s un-envied disciplinary record this season. Two more scoring openings for the Lions as a free-kick saw the ball sail into empty space, and finally Charlie Marshall shot over to end the match and a season which had seen Pagham become a force to be reckoned with, and with much to look forward to next season.

Pagham; W.Hallett, G.Robinson, R.Cox, D.Pearce, P.Jones, J.Booker, A.Kew, N.Murfin, J.Temple, S.Murfin, J.Gregory; R.Woolf, C.Marshall, J.Williamson, S.Hinshelwood