Lions love life on the road as Saltdean and Newhaven are beaten

Paul Davidson has been our man at Nyetimber Lane this week - here are his reports...

Saltdean 1 Pagham 3

SCFL Premier

Pagham grabbed an excellent win at Saltdean United.

Lining up with James Thurgar, back from Horsham, in place of the recently-departed George Cody, the Lions went in front in the 16th minute with a good goal from Lloyd Rowlatt, a 20-yard half-volley into the top corner.

Pagham, playing their first game without club legend Scott Murfin, who has moved to Chichester City, kept the pressure on and doubled the lead from the spot through Dan Simmonds in the 24th minute.

A lovely through ball from George Bingham to Thurgar set him clear, but he was brought down by the Tigers keeper as he went round him.

Saltdean were awarded a dubious penalty in the 40th minute, converted by Rob O’Toole to halve the Lions’ lead at the break.

Pagham central defenders Joe Booker and Daryl Wollers were having excellent games.

It wasn’t until almost the last kick that Pagham made it safe with a superb strike from sub Terrell Lewis. He had only come on for James Thurgar in the 85th minute and scored a tremendous 30-yard volley with only his second touch.

Pagham: Binfield, Kilhams, Cox, Bingham, Wollers, Booker, Rowlatt, Chick, Simmonds, Overton, Thurgar. Subs: Lewis, Ashmore, van Driel, N Murfin.

PAUL DAVIDSON

Newhaven 2 Pagham 5

This time the lights didn’t go out as Pagham swept aside their hosts on a cold evening at the Trafalgar Ground.

When this fixture was attempted ten days earlier it ended prematurely in total darkness with the Lions 1-0 up.

This time, it looked like Newhaven had taken a very early lead as top scorer Lee Robinson had the ball in the net after a minute, but his effort was disallowed for offside.

It didn’t take Pagham long to reply as a lovely run and shot by Callum Overton was pushed out to James Thurgar, who made no mistake from five yards to give his side the lead in the fifth minute. It was almost 2-0 two minutes later when a curling shot from Dan Simmonds hit the post from 25 yards.

Newhaven equalised in the 25th minute when Lee Robinson smashed home from the spot after he had been brought down. Lions keeper James Binfield kept the scores level with a tremendous low save from Kyle Woolven.

The Lions were next on the scoresheet when Lloyd Rowlatt curled a shot in from the edge of the area which the home side keeper Jake Buss made a hash of after 29 minutes.

Binfield made another excellent low save from Robinson, while two more half-chances fell to Pagham.

The second period started with Binfield made his third quality save before Dan Simmonds saw a stinging shot fly just over.

On the hour the Lions gave the ball away in midfield and Newhaven struck the equaliser, Woolven giving Binfield no chance from the edge of the box.

But Pagham took the lead back just over a minute later. Thurgar made a great run down the left finished with an excellent cross that Overton volleyed goalwards. Keeper Buss could only palm the ball back to Overton, who whacked it back past him for a 3-2 Pagham lead.

Four minutes later Dockers keeper Buss dropped an Andy Chick free-kick at the feet of Overton but his shot went just past the post.

It wasn’t long before goal number four came along for the Lions as Simmonds shot low under Buss in the 72nd minute.

Pagham were rampant now and Overton was crudely brought down in the box for Simmonds to slide the penalty into the corner of the net.

Pagham: Binfield, Wiggans, Cox, Bingham, Davidson, Booker, Rowlatt (Ashmore), Chick, Simmons (Crouch), Overton, Thurgar (Kilhams).