South Park might have killed Kenny but they can't strike down Pagham

The 2012-13 season kicked off at Nyetimber Lane with Pagham taking a 1-1 draw against Combined Counties League side South Park.

A trio of new signings for Pagham came in the form of ex-Chichester duo Calum Cutler and James Ford and ex-Eastleigh keeper Andy Smallpiece.

The Lions attacked from the off, with Cutler almost marking his first Pagham start with a goal after three minutes.

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Joe Briggs was superb down the wing, providing balls for James Temple and Scott Murfin to feed off in the middle.

Bob Minty was kept busy with the whistle as both sides treated the game with some venom, tackles flying in. At one point the South Park skipper was substituted before Mr Minty took further action following blood and thunder football in stormy conditions.

The deadlock lasted nine minutes into the second half before South Park took the lead. A ball was fed into a central position, and Smallpiece could do nothing as the ball rocketed past him.

The away side could have doubled the score a few minutes later as a free-kick went just wide. The hour mark saw Tom Broadbent make a return to Lions colours following his military training.

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Lewis Hyde shot over the bar, while sustained South Park pressure was killed off by the Lions. James Binfield took over in goal for the last ten minutes.

When Pagham’s equaliser came, it was top-drawer. A stinging long range shot from Harry Williams on 83 minutes ended with a goal Kenny Dalglish would have been proud of. Temple almost got a second in the dying minutes.

On Tuesday night, Pagham drew 0-0 at home to Horley.

PAGHAM: Smallpiece; Buckland, Ford, Pearce, Booker, Hawker, Briggs, N Murfin, Temple, S Murfin, Cutler; Williams, Bingham, Binfield, Anderton, Nunn, Champion, Hyde, Broadbent.

Pagham host Gosport this Saturday (July 21) and Fareham on Tuesday (July 24).

JON ROSE