Pagham sink the Fleet in the FA Cup

It was Fleet that started on top as Pagham struggled early on to get their game together. It was no surprise when, on 18 minutes, the away side hit the front. Taylor Watts jumped on a clearance from the Lions and smashed the ball into the top left-hand corner from around 35 yards.

Their joy was shortlived as Callum Chalmers burst through on the right and, holding the covering defender off, he slid the ball under the keeper for the equaliser.

On 35 minutes the Lions hit the lead for good as David Crouch managed to flick the ball home at the near post from an excellent right-wing cross by Chalmers, the ball taking a bit of a deflection off a defender on the way in.

Pagham had really got going now and Crouch was unlucky to see his speculative 30-yard lob drift just wide. The Lions had a huge shout for a penalty right on half-time and the players left the field with the match still very much in the balance.

The second half started very evenly but the first real attempt was by Chalmers as he once again sped down the right, but his shot was well saved by keeper Nash.

Fleet were gradually getting on top now, but without causing the Lions defence too many problems. Conor Geoghegan almost put the tie out of Fleet’s reach, but he headed a long-free kick narrowly over the bar after 81 minutes.

Despite the referee playing an extraordinary 11 minutes added on time he eventually blew the whistle and Pagham progressed happily into the next round.

Pagham: Maciek Kason, Tom Atkinson, Ryan Hallett, Joe Clarke, Conor Geoghegan, Jack Williamson, Callum Chalmers (Grant Radmore), Jack Barnes, David Crouch (Toby Funnell), Sam Connolly, Jared Rance (Jake Heryet). Subs not used: Ash Hawkes, Scott Rafferty & Jamie Carroll.