With three goals in nine minutes and looking in control it was 3-2 at half time and 3-3 just minutes into the second half. We spent most of the second half on the back foot and grateful to Tom Marshall in preventing us from going behind, especially as we did not look like scoring. At the moment, every point is important.

The opening ten minutes was a scrappy period of play with only half chances for either side. In the fourteenth minute Tyrone Magala-Bryan had possession on the right and was fouled. Advantage was played as Conor Wilford had the ball and played it forward down the wing to find Hamza Abubakari driving into the box to fire it past the keeper for 1-0. Four minutes later Keanan Allessani had a shot blocked and Wilford picked up the loose ball. He laid it out to Elliot Cannon on the left and he powered forward and fired home for 2-0. On 25mins it got even better as Wilford again set up Allessani to his right for a run into the box, a cut back onto his right foot and then a shot into the top left corner of the net for 3-0. The three goal lead was not the result of a dominant display and Pagham were soon pushing forward on the left but the cross was easily taken by Tom Marshall. A half chance for Allessani followed as Jimmy Williams played him into space on the right for a shot that was saved.

Having conceded a free kick on the left edge of the box, a well taken kick by Pagham's No. 7 and best player found the net for 3-1 on 31mins. From the kick off we were asleep and former Linger and scorer of the two goals that beat Hassocks in the cup in midweek Carl Brown was clear on the right and drew a save from Marshall. On 34mins, Wilford hit a free kick from the centre of their half that the keeper gathered. Neither defence was looking particularly tight and Pagham were into our box on the left and delivered a cross that Marshall palmed onto the post and behind for a corner on 37mins. A lucky escape a minute later as the ball into our box was flicked on and then headed home but the flag was raised for offside. On 40mins Stephen Hodge was alert to cover a long ball forward from Pagham down the left. Then from our free kick, three minutes later Pagham were breaking forward again and with a two on one advantage they made no mistake to make it 3-2.

As the half went into added time Allessani was onto a long ball and clear on goal when the flag went up. It looked like a bad decision as the player further across was offside but not taking an active part in the move. As the game swung back the other way, Jack Porter made a great last ditch tackle in the six yard box to clear the danger. In the third added minute, Ben Bayoko had a chance to shoot but couldn't generate enough power to trouble the keeper. A minute later Kalan Rock fed Allessani for him to attack the box and win a corner. The ball was delivered low and turned out for another corner that was taken by the keeper and that was the break at 3-2.

A chance at half time saw Aaron Kiberu replace Rock. Our heads still seemed to be in the changing room as on 48mins a long ball into our box on the right saw the ball find the net and it was 3-3. Three minutes later Pagham were attacking on the right again but the final header was wide. After another scrappy ten minutes the manager rang the changes with Bayoko, Magala-Bryan, Abubakari and Allessani being replaced by Dennis Asante, Connor Summerfield, Khavarn Williams and Ollie Powers. On 65mins Pagham had a free header from a corner on the left but Marshall caught it and released Asante to drive forward and have a shot that curled to the left. Porter made a vital block and clearance on 73mins but was then caught trying to head back to Marshall two minutes later requiring Kiberu to provide the cover and keep it all square. A minute later Pagham fired a shot over the bar as they were looking the more likely to score.

On 78mins Powers had the ball and drove forward, he found Porter in support to push further forward but his run was ended by a foul. Nothing came on the free kick but Marshall was then alert to make a save and then dive to gather the ball as the action moved down to our end. Williams won a header in midfield and set Powers away for a run down the right and cross to Cannon on the back post. His shot hit Asante in the centre and it was ruled offside on 83mins. Lingers fans were nervously looking at the time and wanting the clock to run down faster and as normal time ended Marshall was once again alert to claim the ball.

Into added time and in the second minute once again it was Porter making the last ditch tackle. A bit of possession around the Pagham box ended up with Williams K having a shot from the right but he was never really set and the ball sliced wide of the right post. Into a fourth minute and Pagham were looking for the winner but Marshall made the best save of the game with his legs to deny them and see it end all square at 3-3.

The plus points of this game were the performance of Marshall in goal and that we scored three goals as of the other teams struggling for wins down the bottom we have scored more goals. Only a single clean sheet so far this season in the FA Cup says we are a long way from the run of shutouts we had in December last season. We stay in sixteenth in the table but with their first win of the season, Eastbourne United have closed to a point behind. Shoreham and our next opponents AFC Varndeanians both lost and bottom side Little Common picked up a second point of the season. Our Saturday match at the Withdean clears our game in hand but still leaves Varndeanians with a game in hand. Little Common have only played seven games so far as well.