Pagham strike Golds and lance Lancing

By the end both sides were down to ten men, and there’d been a hotly-disputed penalty and a torrential downpour that failed to dampen the enthusiasm of the crowd.

Early pressure came from the Lions although Littlehampton’s Dean Jarman had a shot charged down. Golds keeper Luke Hutchins was having a superb game, parrying a shot from Lloyd Rowlatt and making superb fingertip save from Kieron Pamment.

Pamment hit the side netting for Pagham while Jarman’s shot was wild and wide on 24 minutes.

A Lions corner was blocked on the line before the ball fell to Scott Murfin, who struck just wide.

He had a further chance to score near the half hour. A free-kick found its way to Murfin, his looping shot going just wide.

Josh Bates for the visitors was talked to by the referee before Jarman was booked. Ruben French’s free-kick was well dealt with by Hutchins.

Former Lion Mike Asare was leading the line for Littlehampton and almost opened the scoring on 39 minutes with a stinging strike that went just over.

Rowlatt was next in the book, but with play nearly all with Pagham, the visitors took a shock lead just before half-time. A pass by Hand ended up at the feet of Ben Gray and his run and shot from the right rifled past Binfield.

After the break Gray was cautioned, much to his and his manager’s disgust.

Four minutes into the half, the Lions were level. Murfin found time and space to run and score a tremendous solo goal.

Pagham’s Liam Humphreys was shown a yellow card for a late tackle. Joe Shelley was close with an effort on goal near the hour as the rain came down to make a fraught game even edgier.

Asare was next to be cautioned by the referee before Murfin’s superb strike on 65 minutes put the Lions ahead, his shot on the turn giving Hutchins no chance.

Callum Overton and Jordan Clark came on for the Lions, Morey and Shay Wiggans’ work done.