2016 has a losing start for Lions

Pagham started the new year as they’d ended the old – with a defeat to local rivals, as Arundel won 4-0 at Nyetimber Lane in a Southern Combination premier-division game.

After the 3-0 reverse at Chichester just after Christmas, Jon Tucker’s men fell to a damaging loss at home to Arundel.

With virtually a full-strength side out, the efforts of the groundstaff to get the pitch ready should have been worth it. But as early as the eighth minute, Asa Nicholson gave the Mullets the lead with a long low shot that evaded James Binfield in the Lions’ goal.

The Lions back four was looking less than settled and a mistake two minutes later could have made it 2-0 to the visitors.

Ryan Cox’s return to Nyetimber Lane did show some promise as he prompted some decent attacking moves for Pagham.

They wren’t coming off, though, and although James Fernandes in Arundel’s goal pulled off a fine double save on 23 minutes, it was always more likely the away side would score next.