Last season I wrote that our trip to Pagham was a long way to go for a point. This time it was a long cold way to go for what this season is a valuable point and another clean sheet as well. Either side could won the game with their chances in the second half but in the end a draw was a fair result.

Before kick-off everyone paid tribute to Eric Nunn, former Chairman and Life President of Pagham FC, who passed away recently with a minute of applause.

A muddy pitch and a strong breeze was always going to make for a tough watch and in the first minute Pagham sliced a clearance from their box to give us a throw. We could not take advantage of this and it took ten minutes for our first chance to come when Keanan Allassani slid the ball into the box for Hamza Abubakari and his shot was saved at the foot of the right post. Pagham had their first chance approaching the quarter hour as they had possession on the right of our box. Their shot from outside the box was wide of the left post. They had another chance immediately after as we gave up the ball cheaply from our goal kick but this time the shot was high. After our shutout at Bexhill United it was good see the strong defence continuing with Prince Aderogba blocking Pagham on the left of our box.

On 22mins Ousmane Balde Dansoko was on a break into their box but a good tackle put the ball into touch. From the throw Balde Dansoko won a corner from the right but nothing came from it. A ball in from the left by Allassani the next minute set up Kobi Asante for shot that went high. A free kick from Jason Stripp was dropped into the six yard box on 26mins and the keeper was sharp to take the ball. Shortly after, a solid fifty-fifty challenge left Asante flat out and a frantic rush to his aid. Thankfully the stretcher was not required and he was able to make his way off the pitch assisted by two of our lads. Braiden Hall came on with 42 minutes elapsed and ten minutes of added time to play. After his excellent performance last time out Sammie Saward he was having another solid game by coming to gather a looped in cross from the left corner of our box halfway through added time. With two added minutes to play Conor Wilford needed to clear the ball out for a corner. The corner resulted in a shot that went wide on the left and that was the end of the half.

Pagham made a strong start to the second half and had the first corner but it flew across the box and Saward gathered it. We were soon on the edge of their box and Jimmy Williams was forced across the pitch trying to get an opening to shoot but Pagham were able to clear. Pagham were having more of the ball as our clearances were not sticking up front but everyone was putting in a shift in defence to block and clear. With the hour nearly up, Abubakari set Balde Dansoko on a chase into their box and forced their defender to concede a throw. Nothing came of the throw and on 62mins we conceded a soft corner on the left. It was played short and the Pagham shot clipped the top of the bar. Our first unforced change came with Connor Summerfield replacing Blade Dansoko. Five minutes later it should have been a goal for Pagham as they played to ball across the edge of the box from left to right. We were caught short of defensive cover and with plenty of space their forward just dollied the ball to Saward when the goal was at his mercy. A couple of minutes later again working in from the left the final Pagham shot glanced off the bar again.

A couple more changes as Ruebuan Zamorano and Williams were replaced by Jack McDonnell and Tyrone Magala-Bryan. Fifteen minutes to play and Braiden Hall had the ball on the right and fired in a shot that looked to have been handled away but with the officials having a bad day it went unseen. The resulting corner was a mess as we tried to play short and just lost the ball requiring Saward to come and claim their long ball. Two minutes later it was a good idea in theory to save a corner but in doing so the ball was lost and trying to get it back resulted in a foul in the box for a penalty. In a flash all our hard work was undone, except that the penalty hit the woodwork and follow up was hit way over the bar. With the final ten minutes ahead, Christo Nano replaced Allassani. Pagham had two shots in a minute as their shot from the right went over the bar and then followed up with a shot wide of the right post. Last five minutes coming up and Wilford was down the left and holding the ball up to link with Hall. Hall worked space just in from the byline and tested their keeper with his shot. The keeper was keen to get Pagham going forward but his throw up was picked up by McDonnell who then ran at their defence and into the box where he clashed with their keeper. Magala-Bryan was in the box and the keeper ran into him in trying to play out again and then looked to have raised his hands to him. No great surprise that the referee missed that too. Last minute and we nearly won it as Hall fired in a powerful shot from the edge of the box that hit the keeper's hand as he made himself big. From the Stripp corner, Wilford got his head to the ball and it was caught by the keeper. Five minutes of added time and to run the clock down Magala-Bryan battled to win the ball on the left in our half and then drove down the touchline and into the corner. As Pagham tried to win it back he won a foul. More time elapsed and with it came the final whistle and the match ended goalless. A second clean sheet in a row thanks to our solid defence and all round team effort.

Having been told no ambulance was available to attend to Kobi Asante we are grateful to the Pagham Chairman Kellie Heatley for taking him, accompanied by Elliot Cannon, to hospital. After fearing the worst when he could not move his neck the diagnosis seems to be a bad neck sprain akin to whiplash. We wish him a speedy but cautious return to action.

The battle of the bottom two saw Saltdean United host Little Common in a match that ended in a draw – a good result for us. Our point keeps the points gap the same below us but our next opposition Shoreham were beaten at home by our neighbours Crawley Down Gatwick so we go there just two points behind and able to go above them if we win. They do have two games in hand on us, as do Saltdean and Little Common. The form table looks better for us as we lie thirteenth while Shoreham are eleventh having picked up a point more in their last six games. Bottom of the table are Saltdean and we visit them in three weeks time in another big game.