Men's First Team
Isthmian League Premier Division Sat 19 October MKM Arena
Bognor Regis Town
2
Cray Valley PM
3
2-3

Bognor were on the reverse end of a defeat at Nyewood Lane against high-flying Cray Valley PM. Freddie Parker got a first half hat-trick to help them to the win, breaking Bognor fans’ hearts.

The loss leaves Robbie Blake’s men second from bottom in the Isthmian premier division table.

Harry Clout had an early cross fly through the area and out of play.

Malik Sesay fouled Dan Gifford on the counter.  The curled ball into the area was headed away.

Bognor went behind on 14 minutes.  A swift ball along the edge of the box by Famnaya Shomotun fell to Freddie Parker before he composed himself before curling the ball into the net beyond the outstretched Ryan Hall.

Shomotun did well to ran past his defender before shooting at goal and forcing a good parried save from Hall at his near post on 22 minutes.

Spencer Spurway hit another of his trademark long range efforts forcing Max Ovenden into a parried save away with two hands.

Bognor went further behind on 34 minutes as Marcel Barrington curled the ball onto the head of Freddie Parker who neatly steered his header into the net.

Clout did well to win a corner with a shot off a defender.  But the corner kick was cleared away.

Cray Valley PM really should have added to their tally on 40 minutes when Barrington hit the ball across the face of goal and with it open Thomas Beere steered it wide.

Parker made it his hat-trick on 43 minutes as he ran through on the touchline before shooting low into the bottom right corner beyond a diving Hall.

Gifford had a shot from a tight angle pushed out by the goalkeeper in stoppage time.

Bognor got a goal back on 45 minutes with one minute into stoppage time as Jasper Mather beat his man before shooting it low and keeping Bognor in the game.

HT 1-3

Preston Woolston did well to run through on a pass but the goalkeeper got there first as the Rocks had a long uphill struggle to get back into this game.

Matt Burgess did well to run through and had a go from distance but the ball sailed over the crossbar.

Calvin Davies did well to pass through to Mather but his left footed strike forced a parried save from the goalkeeper.

Mather almost scored inadvertently off his back following a corner as it deflected off a defender’s clearance.

Tommy-Lee Higgs, shortly after replacing Preston Woolston off the bench, he skied his effort on 61 minutes.

Parker, already with a hat-trick, shot another effort at goal off a defender and into Hall’s arms.

Beere had another chance he smashed over the bar shortly after as Cray looked very potent upfront.

After good closing down Gifford it was Burgess who stubbed it into the turf and wide on 69 minutes.

Barney Williams was lucky to get away with a late challenge taking out Gifford on the turn near the touchline on 74 minutes.

Barrington did get booked on 76 minutes for a late challenge.  Burgess’s freekick was headed out to Rocco Gamblin who hit it with his left boot from outside the box but the goalkeeper was well positioned to save.

Gifford charges down a ball out from Ovenden to have a chance.  But Gifford tried to find Mather in the area but this was swiftly cleared.

Burgess hit another bouncing chance from distance at goal but again Ovenden was equal to it on 79 minutes.

Bognor did get another goal back as Spencer Spurway did well to run into space forward and hit a fantastic unstoppable strike into the net from 25 yards out to give Bognor some late hope of a draw.

Bognor have now got a week’s break from matches and will welcome Cheshunt to Nyewood Lane next on Saturday 2nd November with kick off at 3pm.

Picture: TOMMY McMILLAN