Pagham eye top-three finish... Selsey slip up

Selsey 2 Pagham 4

Sussex League division one

Selsey found themselves back at the bottom of the table after the Lions completed a league double over their local rivals.

The Blues have had a difficult season, but take nothing away from a Lions performance that was every bit as dominant as the score suggests.

In the first minute, ex-Blues player Ryan Morey could have opened the scoring, a right-sided shot being gathered by Selsey keeper Kieron Gilbert.

Lloyd Rowlatt’s header skimmed just wide after a great Lions build-up. But soon, the Lions found themselves 3-1 in the lead.

Scott Murfin scored first from an inswinging corner – his 21st league goal of the season. Dan Martin quickly doubled the lead.

Selsey halved that lead as Linden Miller found space to run through with a shot that Lions keeper James Binfield could do little about.

Miller had been one of Selsey’s only bright spots in the 4-1 loss to Pagham’s youth side the previous weekend, and was again here.

Rob Wimble got the third Lions goal with an acrobatic strike that left Gilbert stricken.

As seems traditional in a Selsey-Pagham game, there was a booking for a Morey, with Stewart Morey seeing yellow after a push. Lee Bradshaw had to be at his best for the Lions with Toby Lempiere on a lightning run down the right.

Selsey started the second period on the front foot with a run from Lempiere and a threatening freee-kick from Barney Covill keeping Binfield busy.

Just over ten minutes into the second half, Lloyd Rowlatt got the Lions’ fourth when he headed in Wimble’s pinpoint cross.

It could have been five as a Scott Murfin free-kick was parried by Gilbert. Dave Rough shot wide for the Blues, followed by a half-hearted effort from Covill.

Rob Brown marked his Pagham return after suspension with a booking that many thought unwarranted. Miller almost got a second for Selsey just after the hour as a streaky run caused Binfield to race from his area to clear.

Ryan Davidson went off injured, replaced by Nathan Hawker.

Josh Irish, on for Murfin, was put through by Wimble only for the Selsey keeper to block the ball.

Selsey were finding the occasional gap, a free-kick from sub Mark Thompson testing the Lions and Nathan Hawker foiling Miller.

The last few minutes belonged to Miller as his solo efforts pushed Pagham back and he hit a cheeky ball through Binfield’s legs to cut the margin of defeat.

Pagham visit St Francis Rangers this Saturday while Selsey host Hassocks.

SELSEY: Gilbert, Lempiere, Covill, C Thompson, S Morey, Correll, Parsons, Kilhams, Platt, Abostinelli, Rough, Cavell, Miller, M Thompson.

PAGHAM: Binfield, Hayes, French, Bradshaw, Davidson (N Hawker 66), R Brown, R Morey (A Brown 82), Martin, Wimble, S Murfin (Irish 78), Rowlatt. Subs not used: Richer, O’Connor.

JON ROSE

Pagham 0 Lancing 0

Division one

The Lions recorded their first goalless draw of the season.

Gary Block was without three strikers, Scott Murfin and Rob Brown being suspended and Howard Neighbour injured.

Neil Murfin made a welcome return to the bench while Lee Bradshaw started despite of a slight injury. Lloyd Rowlatt partnered Rob Wimble up front.

A Dan Martin shot whistled just past the the post before Wimble saw a snapshot go just wide.

Alex Fair pounced on a defensive error to shoot at Lions keeper James Binfield and at the other end, Alex Kew forced a goal-line clearance.

The Lancers kept Binfield busy – a performance that earned him the MoM award.

Fair and Mike Williamson got in each other’s way to ruin one chance.

Wimble hit the post within a minute of the restart, while Tom Broadbent’s bursts from defence were causing problems for the Lancing back-line.

Martin was booked and the Lancing free-kick that followed led to Binfield pulling off the save of the game.

A corner for Lancing five minutes before the end saw the ball smacked into the side netting.

Pagham went close as a Ruben French free-kick skimmed Wimble’s head.

PAGHAM: Binfield, Hayes (Morey 51), Broadbent, O’Connor (French 76), Bradshaw, Davidson, Hunt, Martin, Wimble, Rowlatt, Kew. Subs not used: Irish, Richer, N Murfin.

JON ROSE

Loxwood 4 Selsey 1

Division one

The Blues ended up well-beaten at Loxwood.

Gary Pritchard’s double in the first 25 minutes put Selsey on the back foot and Joe Holvey soon made it 3-0.

Cameron Corell pulled one back before the interval but Dean Wright’s goal ended any thoughts of a comeback.