Two games in one night for Pagham - and two trophies too

Reserves skipper Mike Gilchrist receives the trophy / Picture by Paul Davidson

Pagham brought two trophies home to Nyetimber Lane on the same night '“ although one of them was tinged with controversy!

Forced to play not only the Reserve Cup final but a vital under-21 game on the same night, the Lions came through with flying colours to claim both trophies.

With the under-21 squad in action at Hassocks in a league match, a reserve squad containing several first-team regulars took to the field at The Lashmar, home of East Preston, to take on Broadbridge Heath Reserves in the Reserve Section Cup final.

The final was not much of a contest, partly because the Bears goalkeeper injured himself in the warm-up and was replaced by a defender. This backfired as early as the seventh minute when a left-sided cross by Johan van Driel took a wicked deflection and looped over stand-in keeper Brendan Milborrow’s head and in.

It was 2-0 four minutes later when Ashley Harper tapped home a cross from Callum Overton after great work from Ryan Cox. Overton then turned scorer in the 22nd minute, knocking home a corner at the far post.

Pagham keeper James Binfield was forced into his first save, pushing a free-kick away for a corner after 28 minutes, but the ball was soon back up the other end as Overton had two chances, sending a flashing volley just wide and forcing a great save from Milborrow, having been set up by Harper.

A minute before half-time it was 4-0 as Joe Booker headed home a van Driel corner.