Familiar tale for Pagham - Murfin scores, they win

Murfin’s double means he has scored in seven of the Lions’ last eight games - while John Price’s team have now won seven and drawn one of their past eight division-one games.

Pagham were eighth after this latest victory and with games in hand over all but one of the teams in front of them.

On a day when the Lions were glad to be heading north, with all but two Sussex League games in the county washed out, Murfin put the Lions in front on 13 minutes after a neat build-up involving Lee Bradshaw and Ben Buckland.

It was pretty comfortable for Pagham and they had chances to add to their tally long before Murfin’s tenacity led to his and the team’s second just before the hour mark.

More Lioons opportunities came and went but Dorking made the visitors sweatly - if only briefly - when they pulled a goal back in the final minute.

Boss Price said: “It was important to get the three points. With most of the other sides not playing, we were effectively playing one of our games in hand so we didn’t want to miss that chance to play catch-up.

“It wasn’t the greatest game, nor the greatest performance from us, but it was workmanlike. We got the job done and were pleased to come home with the points.”

Price even admitted Murfin was not at his best - but agreed it was a bonus to have a player in your team who could score goals regularly even when not on top form.

He said of the win: “It keeps us going in the right direction - it was our seventh win from eight in the league - but we have to keep going.

“We’ve got another tough one on Saturday at East Preston, who are right up there, so we’ll have to be at our best.”

STEVE BONE