Men's First Team
Friendly Sat 15 July Sussex Transport Community Stadium
Worthing
0
Bognor Regis Town
2
0-2

Craig Robson also clinched the other goal in the second half, which put the game beyond doubt in blustery conditions.

Early on both sides were struggling with the windy weather. An early pass forward by Kieran Douglas was too much for Jasper Mather who had strayed offside.

Then Josh McCormick dug out a pass forward and found Lucas Pattenden but he was also offside. Isaac Olaniyan did well to run onto the ball on the right touchline before speeding into the box but his strike was shut down and cleared.

Calvin Davies did well to find Pattenden again on the right but his cross towards Mather was cut out.

Jesse Starkey got Worthing on the attack but after finding Sukjae Lee on the left, his cross whizzed across the area and out of play on 12 minutes.

Then Kyle O’Brien miscued his pass straight to Trialist C for Worthing. He squared a pass to Trialist B who struck wide of the right post from 25 yards out.

Bognor cut out the possession and a pass was pinged out wide to Pattenden but after using his pace to get the ball into the box it was cleared again after his cross.

McCormick did well to win a corner on the right. But the corner by Davies was easily headed away.

Then Ryan Hall dashed out of his penalty area ahead of the onrushing Reece Myles-Meekums following a long through ball on 24 minutes.

Then on 26 minutes Mather did well to wind his way around the defenders before unleashing a great shot with the goalkeeper pushing it over with one hand.

But Bognor took the lead on 29 minutes thanks to Pattenden when he latched onto a blocked chance by McCormick to slot powerfully low and into the net. His first goal for the club.

It was very much a midfield battle afte the first goal went in. Ben Anderson did well to cut out Myles-Meekums’ run when he looked destined to find space in the box.

Another great chance for Bognor to extend their lead came on 38 minutes. A ball was played out to the right for Pattenden again. He did well to pick out Mather along the deck with a pass. However, Mather, on the turn, hit it along the deck and wide of the left post.

Bognor gave away a freekick from around 22 yards out. But Starkey curled it over the wall and straight at Hall.

In a bizarre moment, the referee pulled up favouring his right leg and appeared to twist his ankle on 42 minutes.

That was the last piece of action as Rocks went in at the break ahead in the game.

HT 0-1

Worthing started well in the second half. Greg Luer did well to find Michael Klass. His shot was deflected wide. Then Joel Colbran shot wide following the corner with the ball on the rise.

Douglas was replaced by Danny Howick after it looked as though he took a knock on 49 minutes.

On 50 minutes Davies spun the ball into the area for McCormick but the ball was literally blown out of touch. Klass put the out for a corner bizarrely with a pass back teeing up Bognor for another goal.

Davies fired the cross low into the box and with Craig Robson getting to it in the area. McCormick was on the goal-line to make sure, but the goal was given to Robson who had the inital chance, with the ball already crossing the line.

Then down the other end, Robson’s forward ball was hit straight at Joe Felix who ran in down the middle before shooting narrowly wide of the left post in a wasted opportunity for Worthing.

Joe Briffa came on for McCormick in Bognor’s second change on 60 minutes.

Ollie Pearce got his first chance on goal under pressure from Briffa but his attempt went straight into the arms of Hall on 62 minutes.

Aarran Racine met the corner from the right but again Hall was equal to it on 65 minutes.

Then Olaniyan did well to pick out Pattenden who was again using his pace to get into the box and eventually got a low shot at goal. He forced a decent save from Rocco Reece who diverted it away on 68 minutes.

On 69 minutes Davies was replaced by Trialist 1 for Bognor.

Then Pattenden was also replaced by Tom Holland on 72 minutes. He rightly got a good applause when he came off followinghis contribution to the match.

A freekick, awarded after a shirt pull, was swung in and Mather and De St Croix were both blocked with their attempts in the box.

On 82 minutes it was Nicky Wheeler who ran down the left for Worthing but his shot was deflected into the arms of the grateful Hall.

Holland did well to win the ball before getting the ball forward to Trialist 1 but his effort from a tight angle was denied by Reece.

But the game ended with Bognor securing a 2-0 win at Woodside Road in pre-season. They now look forward to a trip to AFC Totton on Wednesday 19 July with a 7:45pm kick off, hoping to continue this positive momentum.

Rocks: Hall, Anderson, O’Brien, Davies (c) (Trialist 1 69), Douglas (Howick 49), Robson, De St Croix, McCormick (Briffa 60), Mather, Olaniyan, Pattenden (Holland 74)
Sub not used: Whyte

Worthing 1st Half: 1. Trialist, 18. Barker, 6. Rye, 15. Livesey-Austin, 4. Trialist B, 7. J. Starkey, 21. Trialist C, 17. Myles-Meekums, 19. Jammeh, 22. Lee, 24. Gamblin

Worthing 2nd Half: 1. Rees, 2. Colbran, 5. Racine, 25. Trialist D, 14. Jeans, 8. Klass, 23. Felix, 20. O. Starkey, 11. Wheeler, 12. Luer, 10. Pearce

Match report by Liam Goodley

Pictures by Trevor Staff / Lyn Phillips- lynandtrevsports.weebly.com