Match 3. Pagham v Woodstock Sports

Saturday 16^th August 2014 @3pm

FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round

PAGHAM 2-0 WOODSTOCK SPORTS

Nyetimber Lane, Pagham

Admission: £6

Programme: £1

Attendance: 85

Refreshments: Amstel, £3.20. Bacon Roll, £2.50

I always look forward to the beginning of the FA Cup competitions and have had Pagham on my visit list for a few seasons now. With a dry forecast, I drove the 99 miles to West Sussex with only stoppages on the usual jct 5, M25 and the Arundel bottleneck on the A27.

The ground has covered accommodation on 3 sides of the ground with the entrance goal line the only one that is open, with a net behind the catch the stray shots. The clubhouse is on the far touchline and is close to the field of play, meaning there is no rail in front of the clubhouse.  Next to the clubhouse is an area of standing cover, with another area behind the far goal.  The near touchline has the seated stand which has large seats and is made from breeze blocks, steel and wood. The whole ground has that DIY feel and has been added to by hook or by crook.  Better in my opinion than the dull flat pack stands popping up everywhere.

The clubhouse has the basic fizzy alcohol on tap and the food hut has the usual fare (no pies) but the quality of bacon and the slightly toasted bun were above average.

Woodstock should have taken the lead in the first minute when a cross found no11, G Bake 6 yards out but he miskicked when the goal beckoned. Pagham had the upper hand of the first half but there was a fracas on the half hour as after an innocuous challenge on Bake, the left back kicked the ball into the lying wingers back while on the ground.  A bundle ended up with a 2-1 result in bookings.

The second half started with Pagham having a shot thump against the post.  The home side took the lead after 70 minutes when a cross from no2, Scott Dormer reached the tall substitute no15, Rob Brown to head in from 8 yards.  The game was put to bed 2 minutes later when no7, Josh Clack eyed up a shot from the edge of the box and rifled past the visiting keeper Dewey.

Some nice looking pubs driving from the A27 to the ground but no stop offs today.