Brandon Adams scored two as well before that for the visitors, and one of those was from a penalty as well.
Bognor were still without Lucas Pattenden (hip injury) and Ben Anderson (fibula break and ankle), with the latter having to wait 8 months at least for a return next season.
A 3rd minute corner by Kasim Aidoo was headed away at the back post by Craig Robson.
Alfie Bridgman got a cross in on the response from Bognor but that was cleared away for a corner. Calvin Davies curled it high into the box but Kieran Douglas couldn’t direct his header downwards.
Jasper Mather did all the hard work, nodding it over a defender before running at goal but the defender clearly blocked him in what appareed to be obstruction, but the referee didn’t give a freekick on 10 minutes.
Bognor had their first chance on 17 minutes when Matt Burgess worked well to square it short to Dan Smith who was unmarked before diverting his strike powerfully over the bar.
Then Aidoo hit a low effort at Bognor’s goal after the defenders failed to clear their lines. Ryan Hall was equal to it, diverting it away with his leg.
Bognor went behind against the run of play on 22 minutes. A long ball through was headed onto the path of Brandon Adams who made no mistake in space, smashing the ball high into the net, beyond Hall.
In response, Dan Gifford couldn’t get a shot away and instead passed it back to Burgess who was blocked moments later. Mather, on the follow up, completely sliced his shot wide.
Douglas had a knocked down header partially cleared and then his strike on the rebound was also denied by the Scholars defence on 28 minutes.
Burgess was clearly pushed over in the area but the referee ignored claims for a penalty on 32 minutes.
Smith was replaced early on 35 minutes and on came Tommy-Lee Higgs. Smith was not at all happy to be subbed off and went straight into the dressing room.
Then Rabbetts got a cross in towards the back post but it bounced out of play.
On 44 minutes it was a great chance for Bognor as Gifford played the ball back for Higgs who was blocked by a brave Lewis Henry, denying Bognor another certain goal.
Leigh Rose was fouled on the attack as Harvey Whyte slid in late and he went into the book on 44 minutes. The freekick was hit directly by Adams through the wall and it was pushed away by Hall.
HT 0-1
As the second half started it was Bognor who had the first attack as Bridgman’s cross flew out of play.
Then goalkeeper, Finn Rushton gathered another cross. Before Higgs was set through again but his low strike was blocked again on 47 minutes.
Temi Babaloala did well to keep the ball in and his cross found Adams but his header was straight at Hall.
Burgess made a quick turn and his ball into Gifford saw him fire it high and wide disappointingly on 50 minutes as Bognor needed to commit Rushton into more saves.
Higgs gave away a penalty on 54 minutes for catching the player as he tried to clear it. Up stepped Adams who coolly sent Hall the wrong way to extend the Scholars lead.
Then Mather won a penalty of his own as he was brought down by Ricky Hayles. Higgs stepped up to steer the ball into the net from the spot on 57 minutes.
Then Aidoo did well to dig out a left sided cross but after an attempted clearance it was Hall who gathered it.
Rose went into the book for a foul on Davies on 63 minutes as Bognor were in search of an equaliser.
Then Hayles slid in late on Burgess but avoided a booking. The freekick was headed off for a corner.
The corner was poor from Higgs but the Rocks got the ball into the box into Olaniyan. But on the turn, he chipped the ball over the bar on 73 minutes.
Gifford was brought down in the area and the referee pointed straight to the spot. Higgs stepped up for his second penalty and slotted it it low and into the net to level the score on 75 minutes.
Rabbetts went into the book after a foul. The low freekick was deflected out to Hall who gathered it after a it came off Douglas.
Then Davies got booked on 80 minutes for a late challenge as Potters Bar were on the attack.
Olaniyan received a sweeping long range pass and kept the ball on and from the touchline he drove it at goal. Though this was also saved by Rushton.
Rabbetts did well to deny Ore Bello a certain goal as he was slipped through defence with a pass. But he steered it wide thanks to Rabbetts’s bravery, especially being on a yellow card.
Higgs did well to twirl with the ball before passing it onto Bridgman who ran on and had a strike that he hit low and again the goalkeeper saved it on 86 minutes.
Davies denied Adams with another last ditch challenge as Bognor needed to stay in the game.
Mather did well to latch onto Burgess’s forward pass to shoot low from distance and forced Rushton into another save diving to his right on 89 minutes.
Davies was stranded at the back allowing Adams in. However, after doing all the hard work he hit the side-netting with his effort.
Right at the end there was another great chance as Mather slipped a pass through wonderfully to Gifford and on his first strike he was denied by a save. But he found himself with the rebound but he put that wide as well with Olaniyan frustrated as he appeared to be in a better position on the second attempt.
But Bognor didn’t do enough in the end to win the game and the points were shared at the MKM Arena. Rocks welcome Wingate & Finchley next at home on Tuesday 27th February with kick off at 7:45pm, weather permitting.
FT 2-2
