GALLERY: Scorchers send Pagham through in FA Vase

TWO contenders for goal of the season dumped Spelthorne Sports out of the FA Vase and gave Pagham a well-deserved place in the next round.
Scott Murfin fires Pagham's opener   Picture by Roger SmithScott Murfin fires Pagham's opener   Picture by Roger Smith
Scott Murfin fires Pagham's opener Picture by Roger Smith

Rob Wimble almost opened the scoring in the first minute, shooting just wide. But for the first quarter-hour, the visitors were the better side.

Hitting the side netting and keeping the Lions defence busy, the Combined Counties League premier-division side should have made more of their domination. That they didn’t was down to poor finishing and Pagham’s determination to keep the visitors at bay.

See a gallery of pictures by Roger Smith above

Scott Murfin fires Pagham's opener   Picture by Roger SmithScott Murfin fires Pagham's opener   Picture by Roger Smith
Scott Murfin fires Pagham's opener Picture by Roger Smith
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The Lions started to find their feet, Lewis Hamilton forcing a save from Spelly keeper Stuart Norman, with Ryan Morey also just wide of the mark.

Scott Murfin’s left-sided shot smacked back off the bar as the home side looked more and more likely to score. They did that on 40 minutes as Morey raced down the wing and pinged the ball to Murfin, and the Lions hitman made no mistake with a fantastic strike from long range.

Spelthorne fans screamed for a handball inside Pagham’s area soon after the goal, but the referee was having none of it.

After the break, Ruben French replaced Andy Brown.

Lewis Hamilton raced into the area and almost capped a superb display with a goal.

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Tayo Akinbiy and Ben Buzzard were able to get behind the home defence only to find their shooting radar well off-target. Tom Broadbent went close with a free-kick on the hour, and at the other end James Binfield pulled off a series of good saves to deny the visitors.

Pagham’s second was certainly the equal of the first. Hamilton’s pass scythed through Spelthorne’s defence and Wimble was on hand to hit a tremendous strike past Norman.

Spelthorne were denied a chance by an offside flag while Wimble with a shot rifle that hit the side-netting.

Hamilton went off to deserved applause, Michael Asare coming on for him.

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Spelthorne got a goal back with five minutes left, leaving a nervous last period of play. But the home side negotiated this with another couple of good chances to increase the lead.

The Lions will host Colliers Wood in round two on Saturday, November 22.

PAGHAM: Binfiled, Bradshaw, A Brown (French 46), Broadbent, Davidson, O’Connor, Hamilton (Asare 75), R Brown, Wimble, S Murfin, R Morey. Subs: Chatfield, Irish, McAlpine.

JON ROSE

Pagham Reserves visited Broadbridge Heath and put in a masive performance, coming away 2-0 victors.

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Carl Turney and Sam Garnett scored on 27 and 39 minutes to move Pagham into second place in reserve section premier.

The Lions’ under-18s were at home to neighbours Selsey and Michael Rogerson slotted home to give Pagham the lead. Selsey levelled before David Crough poked home.

Benjamin Holmes found space from a Sam Conolly corner to score Pagham’s third and Crough scored his second after a great run from Danny Greenslade.

Greenslade tucked in number five but Selsey kept going and reduced the deficit to 5-2.

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