SATURDAY’S MATCH PREVIEW – PAGHAM (AWAY) EMIRATES FA CUP FIRST QUALIFYING ROUND KO 3.00 PM

Dulwich Hamlet journey into that unknown country that is the FA Cup First Qualifying Round. Next stop Nyetimber Lane & the Lions of Pagham.

Dulwich Hamlet head for the South Coast as they begin their Emirates FA Cup adventure in the First Qualifying Round on unfamiliar territory and against opponents they have never previously met, Pagham FC. Saturday’s opposition is but a stone’s throw from Dulwich’s long-time Sussex rivals Bognor Regis Town, perhaps a world in the minds of some but just as dangerous an opponent as the Rocks in a one-off game like an FA Cup tie.

With just one defeat in their opening four games in the Southern Combination Football League (formerly the Sussex County), the Lions are roaring loud in the fourth spot in the embryonic league table, moving ever closer to one day setting up a Ryman League encounter with their near-neighbours from Nyewood Lane. Though their opening game was lost, a dingdong seven goal thriller away to Eastbourne United AFC, the hosts Stephen Dallaway doing the bulk of the damage with a hat trick, the Lions rebounded to demolish Worthing United 5-1 at Nyetimber Lane. Ruben French, George Bingham and Kieron Pamment all found the target with Liam Humphreys bagging a late sixty second brace to heap more punishment on the Mavericks. The goals continued to flow away to Peacehaven & Telscombe, rescued by their fans after relegation from the Ryman League at the end of last season. Local hero Scott Murfin opened the scoring after 18 minutes, his goal augmented by second 7 minutes later from James Thurgar. Peacehaven shaved the gap to a single goal ten minutes after the break but once but late goals sealed a comprehensive as Johan Vandriel & Kieron Pamment fired in two more in quick succession. Scott Murfin and Kieron Pamment provided the killer blows on the Bank Holiday Monday, Murfin’s double and Pamment’s fourth in as many league games ensuring a 3-1 away at Arundel’s picturesque ground in the shadow of the Duke of Norfolk’s imposing residence.

However, before the season proper commenced, there was the little matter of an FA Cup tie to negotiate down the coast at Littlehampton Town (Older Dulwich Hamlet fans might blanch at the mention of that club!). However once Scott Murfin had put Pagham on six minutes and Pamment doubled the lead before the break the result seemed set to go only way. Though Ben Gray bagged one back for the hosts the tie was settled with three minutes left as Robert Brown killed off the last of the home résistance with number three. The win sent the Lions off to Kent to face Canterbury City of the Southern Counties East Football League (the league formerly known as the Kent League), though the sightseeing delights of the cathedral city were denied them with City currently plying their trade on the ersatz pitch at the isolated Homelands ground of Ashford United. Shocked by an open after just sixty second for City, Pagham apparently struggled with their rhythm the usual vigour sapped until Scott Murfin added to his hero status amongst the Lions’ faithful bagging a 74th minute leveller that send the teams back to Nyetimber Lane for a do-or-die decider. Once more the Lions found themselves in early arrears when Sam Conlon rifled home an 11th minute opener. Spookily again the 74th minute proved a turning point as Ben Mepham’s persistence in chasing a through ball paid off with the equaliser. Inseparable after 90 minutes, the protagonists locked horns for 30 minutes of strength sapping extra time. Either team could have scored, neither team did until, with penalties looming like Death’s shadow, Josh Irish got on the end of a low right wing cross and slammed home the goal to set up Dulwich Hamlet’s maiden visit to Nyetimber Lane.

The Lions may have a history stretching back more than a century as stalwart of Sussex football since their foundation in 1903 but it was not until the late 60s & early 70s that the glory days first arrived at Nyetimber Lane. At the end of the 1965/66 season the Lions became champions of the West Sussex League Premier Division for the first time before repeating this success two more times in the 1968/69 and 1969/70 seasons. As well as the league success the club also achieved two Sussex Intermediate Cup wins, in the 1966/67 and 1968/69 season. At the start of the 1970s Pagham moved up to the Sussex County League, just missing out on promotion three years on the spin as in each of their first three campaigns they finished in third spot. In 1979 they finally earned promotion to the top division as they lifted the Division Two title, finishing fourth at their first attempt before clinching the title ahead of Peacehaven and Telscombe a year later. That season also saw the Lions best ever run in the FA Vase, advancing through four rounds from a Preliminary Round win at home to Amesbury through victories over Worthing, First Tower United from Jersey and Harefield United before being narrowly beaten 2-1 at Whyteleafe.

Some topsy-turvy years followed, relegation in 1984, promotion as Division Two Champions in 1987. The silverware began to roll in with back-to-back Division One title secured in 1988 & 1989, the League Challenge Cup also secured for the trophy cabinet in the second of those years as was the Sussex Royal Ulster Rifles Charity Cup for the first and only time.

Once more though pain followed hard at the heels of joy, the demise of once-mighty St Leonards sparing Pagham relegation in 2004 but just for a season as the next campaign, one that included a 10-0 humbling at the hands of Three Bridges, ended in demotion. Two years later the Lions returned as Champions of Division Two, ten points clear of old rivals St Francis Rangers. Consolidation became the watchword and it was not until 2011 that Pagham found themselves back in the mix at the top of the table. However, with some clubs well bankrolled in the pursuit of automatic promotion to the Ryman League (viz the ascents of Crawley Down and Whitehawk as Champions in successive seasons) the playing field had become more than unlevelled. The best finish of recent years came in 2014/15 when the Lions finished just five points shy of victors Littlehampton Town, though in the end it was runners-up Dorking Wanderers that stepped up. Last season saw Pagham slip off the pace in the league, though they did record one of their highest league victories hammering sorry St Francis Rangers away. Meanwhile in their FA Cup the Lions achieved probably their biggest giant killing in their 45 years of playing in the competition as Dan Simmonds’ hat trick shocked the Corinthian-Casuals at the preliminary round stage. Carshalton Athletic almost suffered a similar fate in the following round but just edged through by a 2-1 score line.

Saturday’s First Qualifying Round tie takes at Pagham Football Club, Nyetimber Lane, Bognor Regis, West Sussex PO21 3JY

Admission prices are excellent value at just £6 for Adults with concessions £3.