Andy Mcdowell’s four goal fusillade saw Division 2 Uckfield thrash Pagham to inflict the Lions heaviest home defeat in some time. Although the Lions could claim to be short of five first team players, the visitors were still worthy winners. Having already dispensed with Three Bridges in the Senior Cup, Simon Rowland’s side outplayed, outpassed and outscored a lacklustre Lions side. It was Pagham who opened the scoring though, as early as the second minute. A pin-point pass from Alex Kew found Scot Murfin who made no mistake from close range. After that it was nearly all Uckfield. Their first goal came on twenty three minutes, with McDowall finding time and space to shoot passed Wes Hallet. Next up was a goalmouth scramble on the half hour which saw the ball bundled home passed a melee of players. Although there were no more goals this half, Uckfield were looking every inch a side topping their division.

The lions had most of the early play in the second half, but couldn’t stop the visitors going further ahead on sixty seven. Jack Divall was able to run through and strike home for Uckfield’s third. Three minutes later, and it’s four. McDowall struck home from an inswinging corner to leave Pagham reeling. One notable event for Pagham was the first team debut for Jordan Tribe, replacing Jack Williamson. Tribe looked energetic on the right, but still Uckfield dominated. Goal number five was again scored by McDowall, running through and shooting passed Hallett to record his hat-trick. With less than two minutes on the clock, the sixth was hammered in by McDowall to leave the Lions little to show, and facing two tricky away trips in the league.

Pagham; W.Hallett, D.Moseby, R.Cox, D.Pearce, J.Misslebrook, J.Booker, A.Kew, G.Robinson, J.Williamson, S.Murfin, M.Frangou,; D.Bassill, J.Tribe, M.Hamm, M.ROdway, D.Simmonds