Lions take point from Tigers: Pagham have mixed feelings over Saltdean result

Joe Clarke scored two for Pagham / Picture: Roger Smith

It was still an excellent point though at the home of the pre-season favourites for the league title.

Pagham started on the front foot and Joe Clarke was a little unlucky as early as the 4th minute when he just failed to lift his chip Hawkins in the Saltdean goal. Grant Radmore set up Ash Hawkes in the 17th minute, but his fierce shot was blocked.

Sam Connolly was next with a 25-yard free-kick that was grabbed on the line by the keeper, but it didn’t take long for the Lions to grab the lead. In the 28th minute Joe Bennett angled in a shot that was half-cleared out to an inrushing Clarke who buried his shot under the keeper for 1-0.

Saltdean were really struggling to get any sort of foothold in the game and Pagham keeper Conor Kelly was virtually untroubled all half.

The Tigers looked much livelier as the second half started and it took just two minutes for them to equalise. A stunning dribble by Camara was finished off in sublime fashion by Cormack.

If anyone thought that would knock the stuffing out of Pagham they were wrong as, three minutes later Clarke grabbed his and the Lions second taking a ball across the box from Connolly and finishing at the far post.

It was almost 3-1 ten minutes later as Ollie Hambleton dribbled his way passed three Saltdean players but the shot, when it came, from Grant Radmore was blocked. Ash Hawkes had a hopeful long-shot fly over the bar but the Tigers were really starting to put the pressure on, and Ryan Hallett was forced to clear off his line in the 87th minute.

Saltdean kept pushing forward and less than a minute later a senseless foul 30 yards out led to the equaliser being hammered into Pagham’s net for 2-2. Disappointing but still a great point that was possibly not expected.

Pagham: Conor Kelly, Tom Atkinson, Ryan Hallett, Joe Clarke, Conor Geoghegan, Jack Williamson, Jake Heryet (Ash Hawkes), Ollie Hambleton, Grant Radmore (David Crouch), Sam Connolly, Joe Bennett. Subs not used: Dylan Jelley, Jack Barnes & George Bingham.