Lions lanced by Lancing - but seconds win it for Luke

The first team travelled to Lancing for a Sussex League division-one clash hoping to avenge the 1-0 defeat inflicted on them earlier in the season.

With much at stake for the Lancers, the Lions raced into a 2-0 lead with Joe Briggs’ double giving the visitors a great start by the 20th minute.

Charlie Walker gave the home side hope, adding a goal late into first-half time added on.

Within nine minutes of the restart, Titus Patterson had equalised for the Lancers. Two minutes after that, Charlie Walker scored again and the Lions began to wobble.

Walker left it until the 72nd minute to score his third, while Paterson finished off the rout with three minutes left.

Pagham end their league campaign at home to Sidley this week hoping to secure a fourth-place finish.

Back at Nyetimber Lane, the game that was rumoured to be Luke Cooper’s last in charge of the Lions’ reserve side ended with a resounding win.

Ryan Champion’s early double saw the hosts take a 2-0 lead by the half-hour, with Nathan Stock adding a third three minutes before the break.

Mile Oak scored through Keiran Howard, but they were no match for a Lions side finishing their season in style.

Leading scorer Nathan Parke moved into double figures for the season with a fine strike on 70 minutes, while Anders Wyatt scored his seventh and Pagham’s fifth with two minutes left.

JON ROSE