Pagham could have topped Division one had they beaten Three Bridges. The fact that they didn’t was down missed chances, and an incredible amount of luck on the part of the visitors. Three Bridges started well, with both Paul Jones and Daren Pearce having to clear the lines. James Temple went close for Paghm, whilst the first Pagham booking came within 10 minutes. George Gaskin was very unlucky to have his name taken for encroachment. Gaskin almost made amends a couple of minutes later when fed a ball from Scott Murfin. The chance went awry, and Three Bridges went on the attack again. Steve Boston was magnificent in defence, and his header out on twenty minutes typified the solid performance he put into this game. George Gaskin again tested three Bridges when a shot from the left pinged off the post as Bridges’ keeper Simon Lockwood stood rooted to the spot. At the other end, Alex Bryant had to be at his best to save a Three Bridges strike resulting from an earlier free-kick. Ashley Dugdale found himself booked by Referee Matthew Lee as the man in the middle became the focus for fan’s ire. Lee Carney followed into the ref’s book, following a tussle with Daren Pearce. The Lions then stepped up a gear, with chances from corners and a free-kick giving Lockwood much to think about. Time added on in the first half saw Three Bridges almost nick it before the break, but the strike went wide.

No changes on either side for the second half, and the Lions came out the strongest. George Gaskin went clear on goal, only to see his shot cleared off the Three Bridges line. Andy Howard shot over for the visitors, whilst Dan Moseby had to be alert to clear from Ashley Dugdale. Simon Funnell’s shot went over the bar and toward the trees high behind the goal, as the visitors looked to increase their winning run. Another booking for Pagham as Steve Boston saw yellow. With an hour gone, Three Bridges could have wrapped things up, but their strike was scrambled away. Two more bookings for Pagham as James Misslebrook and Ryan Cox both obliged Mr Lee to use his pencil. Three Bridges were still looking for an opening, and a shot across goal on sixty eight minutes had Pagham fans gasping. Much to the consternation of the Lions fans, Steve Boston was substituted with twenty minutes to go, to be replaced by Alex Kew as Pagham looked for a more attacking style with time running out. This triggered a period of sustained Pagham pressure with Paul Jones, and Scott Murfin both having opportunities to take the lead. As the game entered it’s last ten minutes, events that turned the match on its head took place.Paul Jones’ foul in the area saw the visitors awarded a spot kick. Up steps Lee Carney, and to much hilarity in the Pagham crowd, his spot kick dribbles harmlessly wide. The smiles on Pagham faces lasted all of a minute, as Bridges’ substituteo Elliott Romain took advantage of space on the left to strike home past a furious Alex Bryant. Pagham weren’t finished though, with Daren Pearce’s ball into George Gaskin seeing the latter shoot at Simon Lockwood. Two minutes of normal time remaining saw Andy Weir replace Ryan Cox as the Lions looked for one final push forward in a game which a point for each side would have been fair.

Pagham; W.Hallett, J.Misslebrook, R.Cox, D.Pearce, S.Boston, P.Jones, J.Booker, D.Moseby, G.Gaskin, S.Murfin, J.Temple; G.Robinson, A.Kew, A.Wier, D.Bassill, W.Hallett.