Pagham FC (2) 2-1 (0) Crowborough Athletic FC

Crows: R Gordon, J Trotter, C Smith (S Reid 73), D Dunford, S Whibley (capt), T Boddy, T Smith, T Nowell, T Saunders (C Ransome 68), S Carrington, A Shade (N Millroy 68).
Subs Not Used: B Head (GK).

Half-Time: 2-0
Goals: R Cox 24’ 37; T Boddy 90 (Assist: N Millroy)
Man of the Match: Tom Boddy

A late Tom Boddy goal wasn’t enough for Crowborough Athletic, as they began life in Sussex County Division One with a disappointing opening day defeat at Pagham on Saturday. Ryan Cox scored two as Pagham took advantage of a poor first half display from the Crows, before Boddy gave the visitors hope late on, as Boro rallied in the final stages, but it just wasn’t to be.

“I thought we were very nervous for the first game of the season, we failed to settle down and didn’t play the football we are capable of,” commented Crowborough manager Stuart Nowell, “We didn’t lose because Pagham played good football, we just didn’t compete. The lads were nervous to get the first points on the board. We now have Tuesday to make it up”

Before the match, there was a minute’s silence in memory of Sir Bobby Robson and ex-Pagham Chairman John C Allen. From the start the Crows were on the back foot, as Ryan Cox’s drive from the edge of the area beat the standing Rob Gordon, but only to cannon off the top of the post. The rebound fell to Michael Frangou, who scooped the ball over from close range.
Pagham then deservedly broke the deadlock on 24. Danny Cowton played the ball through to Ryan Cox, who beat the offside trap to slot the ball away from the advancing Gordon and into the near corner.
Crowborough then had a very good penalty shout turned down, as Tom Nowell played in Sam Carrington down the right, and the striker was taken down by Dan Cox, but referee Mark Thompson wasn’t interested.
On 32, the hosts should’ve doubled their lead. Dan Cox crossed in to Frangou at the far post, but he fired over from six yards.
Nowell then had a free-kick saved by Wes Hallett, before Pagham broke to double their advantage on 37. Dan Cox crossed in, and the Crows’ defence failed to pick up Ryan Cox, who broke clear to beat the advancing Gordon and drive into the near corner.
Crowborough then had a spell of pressure at the end of the half. Carrington laid the ball off to Aaron Shade, whose drilled strike was deflected narrowly wide of the near top corner. Then Jon Trotter’s cross picked out Dan Dunford, whose header was saved by the standing Hallett.

Crowborough opened the second half on the front foot. Tom Saunders teed up Scott Whibley on the edge of the area, whose powerful drive through a crowd of players went narrowly wide of the far corner.
However, Pagham were soon back on the attack, as Dan Cox’s free-kick found Ryan Cox, whose bullet header was well saved by Gordon.
After the hour, Gordon in the Crows goal came to the rescue on a number of times. First, Ryan Cox beat Whibley, but his drive was well saved by Gordon. Then a Cowton corner found Sean Towers, whose towering header was brilliantly pushed over by the Boro keeper. After that, Cowton was picked out from a free-kick, and he cushioned the ball down to Ryan Cox, whose strike was well tipped around the post by the diving Gordon.
On 81, Pagham again came close. Substitute Stuart Campbell played the ball across to Stephen Curtis, but the substitute’s left foot drive went narrowly wide of the far corner.
As they did in the first half, Boro rallied late on, as Nowell’s inswinging free-kick was beaten away by Hallett.
On the stroke of the 90 minute mark, the Crows deservedly pulled a goal back. Substitute Nathan Millroy, who had made an influence since coming on, played the ball across the goalmouth, and Tom Boddy was there at the far post to drive in from close range to score his first senior goal, the scrambling Hallett nowhere near. But despite having momentum, Crowborough failed to find that elusive equaliser.