Lions make Shoreham pay for not keeping up with the Jones

Pagham bounced back after their poor performance against Selsey to steal a tightly-fought battle at Shoreham 3-2 right at the death when Paul Jones popped up in the area to fire the winner.

With James Temple and Jones backin contention, Carl Stabler gave some of his younger squad members a chance and they didn’t let him down.

Pagham almost took the lead on 13 minutes when first Jack Williamson then Scott Murfin both tested Steve Allfrey in the home goal.

In the final ten minutes of the half, Pagham threw everything at the Shoreham defence. The ever-prodding Williamsonshot just over the bar, then a corner from Daren Pearce saw Williamson arrive at the back post to score his first goal at this level. Lions keeper Wes Hallett had to pull off a great save from Walker.

Shoreham came out for the second half flying and were soon on level terms as Walker outpaced a spread-eagled defence to shoot over the advancing Hallett.

The hosts’ second came minutes later when slack defending allowed Green in to make it 2-1.

A poor back pass was pounced on by Murfin, who made no mistake slotting the ball past the keeper. In the dying moments Jones had space to shoot through a pack of players to give Pagham all three points.

Greg Robinson was booked for Pagham while Alex Jones and Nick Lansdale saw yellow for Shoreham, who also had Grant Phillpot sent off.

PAGHAM: Hallett, Tribe, Cox R, Pearce, Jones, Hinshelwood, Williamson, Robinson, Frangou, Murfin S, Temple. Subs: Booker, Misslebrook, Kew, Cox D, Simmons.

ROGER SMITH