Stalemate under lights: Pagham frustrated by Loxwood

The game started as it was to go on with both sides going full pelt at each other but with very few chances being created at either end.

On 26 minutes it looked as though the deadlock had to be broken as the Magpies keeper dropped the ball at Joe Clarke’s feet, but with the whole goal gaping he managed to sidefoot his shot against the post and away.

Four minutes later Clarke looked to be brought down from behind in the box, but the ref was not interested, and play moved on. The Lions then created probably their best move of the game when Jared Rance fed Joe Bennett, but the keeper pulled off an excellent low save.

It was Clarke again in the 38th minute but could only watch as his 30-yarder sailed just over the bar with the keeper beaten. Pagham’s last chance of the half came just before the break as a Rance free-kick was headed back across goal, but just as Sam Connolly came in to sweep the ball home, he lost his footing and the ball spun wide.

The second half was almost a carbon copy of the first, with the Lions having the majority of the play, but creating few chances.

George Bingham saw his far post header cleared off the line on the hour mark and soon after Joe Bennett did exceptionally well to get the ball away from the Loxwood goalie, but he just couldn’t quite bend his shot from almost on the dead-ball line enough to slide into the net and it squirmed wide of the far post.

Several substitutions followed but try as they might the Lions could not carve out another decent chance.

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