Old boys get on Pagham's Wick as Lions are left licking wounds

Five late second-half minutes could have seen the result go either way as Wick fought back from a goal down to record a good victory.

The first goal came after 25 minutes, Julian Boniface being left red-faced as he scored a fine goal ... but in his own net, to the hilarity of the watching Pagham fans.

Pagham had had chances with James Temple looking strong up front, keeping Maciej Kason busy in the Wick goal.

Referee Nigel Baker dished out free-kicks like sweets, spoiling the flow of an entertaining match.

The first half ended with Keiron Urquhart clearing an effort off the line. It took only a couple of second-half minutes for Wick to go close to an equaliser.

A defensive error from Pagham let in Andy Brown, whose shot smacked against the bar as he chipped Wes Hallett.

They went one better just after the hour as ex-Lions favourite Michael Frangou marked his return to Nyetimber Lane by scoring Wick’s equaliser.

A free-kick saw the ball land in front of him and he scored with ease.

On came Mike Asare for Wick and Matt Wood for Pagham to add attacking strength to their sides.

With five minutes left, the match came alight. First Wick’s Ash Hunter scored against his old side with a sublime header, then a minute later Phil Turner made it 3-1 with a run and shot.

Pagham weren’t finished there, though, and the ball was pinged into the Wick area for Temple to appear to get the last touch into the net to set up a grandstand finish.

Pagham could have equalised, with keeper Kason almost dragging the ball over the line.

PAGHAM: Hallett, Tribe, R Cox, Pearce, Booker, Hinshelwood, Woolf, Marshall, Temple, S Murfin, Gregory. Subs: Misslebrook, Kew, Williamson, N Murfin, Wood.

WICK: Kason, Urquhart, Hunter, Hobon, Boniface, Bagyura, French, Towers, Turner, Frangou, A Brown. Subs: R Brown, Peach, Asare, Maynard, Niklin.

JON ROSE