Bognor fell to their first defeat of their pre-season friendly campaign at home to a strong Portsmouth side at Nyewood Lane.  The visitors took a 2-0 lead in to the break thanks to Kusini Yenghi’s 24th minute strike a minute after Jordan Williams had opened the scoring.

Early on, Craig Robson denied Yengi a certain goal, deflecting his chance wide of the goal.

Spencer Spurway was also called into action as he blocked Jordan Williams’ low effort inside the area, after good work from Paddy Lane.

Josh Murphy had a chance as he ran onto a forward ball before chipping the ball over Ryan Hall but his chance bounced wide on 6 minutes, in a dominant start for the Championship side.

Lucas Pattenden did well to win a corner on 8 minutes.  Matt Burgess swung the ball into the near post but neither Pattenden nor Callum Barlow could capitalise.

Then Burgess did well to pounce on the loose pass before hitting it forward to Mather who hit it early but straight at Will Norris on 16 minutes in a rare chance for Bognor.

Bognor went behind on 23 minutes as Ollie Downs slipped up with his clearance.  The ball was put back inside to Williams who neatly curled the ball into the net with a dipping strike out of the reach of Hall.

Portsmouth went further ahead a minute later with Yengi scoring after a simple ball over the top.  This left Hall stranded and it was Yengi who fired it low beyond the defenders on the line.

Sammy Silvera had two shots denied in as many minutes as Hall gathered it, with both chances coming from outside the box.

Hall had to dash out of his goal to bravely block Silvera who had to receive treatment for the clash with the goalkeeper on 36 minutes.

Tom McIntyre headed the ball into the net direct from a cross on the left but his goal was denied for offside on 40 minutes.
Pattenden did well, using his pace to win a corner.  Burgess drove the ball in but it was straight at Norris who gathered it in the air.

HT 2-0

Burgess did well to whip the ball in early in the second half.  Under pressure from Barlow, Shaunessy did well to head it out for a corner.

Lane had a shot blocked on 47 minutes and then Lowry’s attempt on the follow up was also diverted wide as Pompey hit Bognor from their own corner kick.

Substitutes were needed and were made as Barlow and Downs came off for Harvey Whyte and Tommy-Lee Higgs on 53 minutes.

Portsmouth continued to control things and Callum Lane did well to shoot from outside the box but it was somehow deflected wide.

The visitors made wholesale changes on 62 minutes and Finn Evans, for Bognor replaced Doug Tuck for the Rocks.

Mason Vince then replaced Block on 67 minutes for the Rocks.

Bognor made their final changes on 70 minutes as two triallists came on for Mather and Burgess.

Higgs tried to find the triallist B’s run but this was cut out and then, as Bognor had more of the possession in the second half.

Christian Saydee was waiting near the back post by Terry Devlin but this was cleared out for a corner.  It seemed easier to shoot himself.

Calvin Davies did well to hook a high freekick into the area on 81 minutes but Robson, on the volley, steered the ball high and wide.

Triallist A took one for the team as he fouled Pompey’s attacker after losing possession. Owen Moxon stepped up to curl the ball over the wall but bounced it wide of the left post.

Saydee forced a decent diving save from Hall down to his right and then the same player then forced another stop from the Bognor goalkeeper.

But in the end, Portsmouth were far too strong for the Rocks in this fixture, but there were positive signs from Bognor in a tough match at Nyewood Lane.  Rocks head to Horndean next on Saturday 27th July with kick off at 3pm in their penultimate fixture before welcoming Worthing to Nyewood Lane on Sunday 4 August with kick off at 2pm.

FT 0-2

ROCKS: Hall, Davies (c), Downs (Whyte 53), Block (Vince 67), Spurway, Robson, Pattenden, Burgess (Triallist A 70), Barlow (Higgs 53), Tuck (Evans 62), Mather (Triallist B 70)