Pagham are the knockout kings after more cup success

Pagham may have won their third cup tie in as many matches in beating Lingfield 3-1 in the second round of the John O'Hara Cup. But the Lions were made to fight all the way by Lingfield.

With Tom Broadbent taking a knock in the warm-up, Ryan Cox slotted into the defence as the Lions started well.

They scored only two minutes in, with Phil Turner easily beating the offside trap to slot past Joe White.

Lingfield came back into it with Chris Head and Dean Roye both testing Wes Hallett, Roye’s clever run ending with a shot which was saved.

Dan Simmonds scored the Lions’ second when latching on to a superb through-ball from Scott Murfin.

With just over half an hour gone, Lingfield had a great opportunity to pull a goal back.

A penalty awarded in controversial circumstances, with Lions skipper Daren Pearce being booked, was saved by Hallett. The game ebbed and flowed and neither side took complete control.

Lingfield looked every inch a side who had lost only once in seven games.

The Lions began the second half brightly, with the front two taking on Lingfield almost by themselves.

James Temple and Scott Murfin created scoring chances, but couldn’t find the Lions’ third.

Lingfield’s goal arrived on the hour as Harry Sinton took advantage of slack defending to strike home. He tried again a few minutes later, only for Pearce to head off the line.

It wasn’t until nine minutes from time that Pagham got their third. Murfin’s cross into the area was met by the diving header of Pearce.

Hallett still had to be on his toes as the visitors pressed forward in search of a second.

In the dying minutes it should have been 4-1 to the Lions but Temple’s screaming shot pinged off the post.

PAGHAM: Hallett, Buckland, Cox, Pearce, Ward (Hinshelwood 33), Booker, Turner (Robinson 78), N Murfin, Temple, S Murfin, Simmonds. Subs not used: Urquhart, Price.

JON ROSE