Lions keep the Woolf from the door on opening day

Murfin ploughed a lone furrow up front in a 4-5-1 formation but able support from Woolf and Phil Turner meant the Lions shaded the early stages.

A timely header from Jayson Souter for Ringmer stopped Pagham getting the opening goal just after the quarter-hour, with Turner the unlucky striker.

Andy Mott’s run into the area for Ringer came to nothing as did a shot from James Bentley which sailed well over James Binfield’s bar. Joe Dryer’s free-kick was high and wide and horrible.

Ringmer boss Bob Munnery made a change on 40 minutes, the massive presence of Kiefer Arden-Webb providing fresh impetus to their frontline.

Perhaps the save of the game from Binfield two minutes before half-time, a stinging shot from Kiran Patel superbly turned wide.

Then Murfin’s shot was charged down, with Alex Ward driving the follow-up wide.

After the break, Joe Booker had to be on his toes to head out a shot from Patel, while Ringmer keeper Gary Trott was given the run-around by Matt Wood and Turner.

The opener came on 51 minutes, Woolf striking to open Pagham’s account for the league season.

Ringmer almost levelled immediately, Patel’s free-kick going just wide.

Ringmer again went close to equalising as Pagham’s defence were stretched by a clearance from Binfield that met the boot of a Ringmer player.

Daren Pearce was on hand to head the ball off the line and Booker fell heavily under a challenge. Two more chances for Pagham saw Woolf and Pip Turner test Gary Trott. On came James Temple and he made an almost-immediate impression, forcing a corner with virtually his first attack.

The visitors started to tire, but Dryer scored the goal of the game on 73 minutes, a superb strike from the left that gave Binfield no chance.

Trott’s save from Murfin was superb but Murfin wasn’t be left out for long, his goal from the right with ten minutes left restoring the Lions’ lead.

Dryer protested and found himself in the referee’s book. Souter followed a high and wide strike with a booking for a clumsy tackle on Pearce.

A third booking for Ringmer saw Mark Price shown yellow for dissent.

Arden-Brown muscled his way into the area with a couple of minutes left but his header drifted wide.

A suspected hamstring injury ended Murfin’s game with a minute or so left and sub Dan Simmonds made a nuisance of himself as the Lions held on for the points.

PAGHAM: Binfield, Buckland, Broadbent, Pearce, Booker, Wood, Turner, Ward, Woolf, Murfin, Hinshelwood. Subs: Temple, Jones, Simmonds, Robinson, Cox.

JON ROSE