Pagham 0 - 2 CDG

Crawley Down Gatwick picked up another 3 points on the road with a hard earnt 2-0 win at 4th placed Pagham.

The two sides had previously met in the Sussex RUR cup semi-final back in February with the Anvils coming out 3-2 victors on that occasion. This time visiting Nyetimber Lane was sure to be a tougher test and indeed the game started as such. Paghams front two of Scott Murfin and Callum Overton looked dangerous on the attack, making good runs behind the back 4 – but a solid display from Andy Greaves in the Crawley Down goal and defence ensured they weren’t to be breached. Meanwhile at the other end Lee Thomas was having some joy on the left hand side and whipped in a good cross to find Sam Cane at the back post – but Pagham keeper James Binfield was in the right place to keep the score 0-0 going into half time.

Two minutes into the second half and the deadlock is broken with Michael Belli scoring an unstoppable volley into the corner from 25yds out to make it 1-0 Crawley Down. This seemed to raise the temperature and soon after Paghams number 6 Liam Humphreys was sent off for a second bookable offence leaving the home team with an uphill task. Just before the hour mark it was 2-0 when Lee Thomas threaded a ball into striker Oli Leslie, who with his back to goal, turned his man and scored into the corner.

For a 10 minute spell Pagham raised there game, and worked hard to force a goal back - winning a couple of corners that were again well dealt with. A third goal was then ruled out as offside following a great team move from the away team – which Sam Cane thought had opened his account for the day - but unfortunately he had just strayed a step too far. Further chances came and went, sub Tom Gannon had a rasping shot which just evaded the top corner before the final whistle blew.

Final Score Pagham 0- 2 Crawley Down Gatwick

Crawley Down Gatwick manager Paul Cooper said after the game “A good 3 points on the road. Our record against the top half sides in this league has been pretty good this season and it should certainly give the players confidence going into next season. Belli and Oli took their goals really well and the most pleasing thing to see was how composed we were throughout the game, whether defending under pressure we dealt it with calmly, competed throughout and having gone 1 up continued to push on. We now have 4 league games left to finish as strongly as we can and the Sussex RUR cup final, so plenty still to look forward to.”