Bognor’s women’s team battled against higher league Millwall Lionesses despite coming from 2-0 down with 23 minutes left to level it at 2-2.  However, the Rockettes conceded twice more in the last part of the game to get knocked out of the league cup.  Rhiannon Hambleton starred as she netted twice for Bognor against higher placed opposition and both sides had to contend with Storm Darragh, which made the game hard for both sides.

Nicole Robinson made an early save after Ciara Watling hit one from long distance after just 3 minutes.

Esme Johnson did well to run down the left before crossing it but the ball flew out of play with the high winds playing a huge part in the game.

Lou Lou Robson did well to drive the freekick from the left flank into the box but with Hambleton in the area, she failed to make contact and it went out for a goal kick.

Florrie Winfield hit the ball off Robson before Watling hit the rebound wide off the left post on 10 minutes as Millwall started well.

Winfield crashed the crossbar with her effort on 12 minutes.  This was after good work by Olivia McGregor on the right wing and her getting a nice cross in.

Annie Gracey went for a loose bouncing ball down the right but clashed in the air with Elise Jennings in the air but after treatment both returned to play.

Johnson did well to beat the offside trap to shoot low and beyond Nicole Robinson on 17 minutes to give the visitors the lead.

Millie Carter did well to wind around her marker before shooting and committing Annis-Clara Wright into a parried save.  Then Carter did well to curl a freekick from the left swinging at goal but it was stopped again by the goalkeeper moments later.

Robinson did well to get in the way of Watling’s effort before Johnson hit the ball high and wide on 25 minutes.

Then Gracey did well down the right and found Carter before she whipped a dangerous ball across the area but Hambleton on the back post steered it wide on 31 minutes.

Kirsty Willett was deemed to have impeded a player on the wing when it looked like she hit the ball against the player only.  Watling got the freekick across but it was confidently diverted away byJade Widdowson.

Victoria Lussambo headed a corner high and wide soon after as Millwall had the gale force winds with them in attack during the first half.

Sophie Chapman headed another Watling corner wide as they looked dangerous from set plays.

Millwall continuted to press and Mia Lockett hit a long range effort with the outside of her boot just narrowly over the bar on 42 minutes.

Delillis was spoken to after her strong challenge and shoved the player in frustration soon after but avoided a yellow card just before half time.  Delillis had returned to the Rockettes after a spell at Selsey this season and fitted straight back into the side.

HT 0-1

Substitutes were made for Bognor at half time as Megan Thompson replaced Gracey and Amelia Atterbury came on for Robinson.

Bognor went further behind on 48 minutes as Johnson did well to spot Atterbury off her line to shoot high over her and into the net from the edge of the box.

The ball was good from Carter on the break to set up Hambleton on 51 minutes.  The inspired pass allowed Hambleton to neatly divert the ball over Wright and into the net.

Hambleton went close soon after as she was blocked bravely by Wright.

Winfield went into the book before Robson’s long range freekick bounced agonisingly wide on 55 minutes.

Delillis fired wide from outside the box soon after as Bognor started to build a response after being two goals down.

Thompson won a corner.  Carter swirled her corner kick into the area and it fell to the feet of Hambleton who fired it low and in on 67 minutes, giving Bognor some hope of snatching a big cup win.

But the equaliser didn’t last long as the impressive Ciara Watling diverted a nice low cross from Johnson from the left on 70 minutes, from close range.

On 79 minutes it was Robson who hit another dangerous freekick into the box.  It was headed out by a defender only to Widdowson who hit it on the rise at goal, but the chance forced a great save from Wright, who was well positioned.

Alice Wood tried a chance from distance but the ball flew wide and then Hambleton did well to run in response on the break but after speeding behind her marker her left footed effort flew just wide.

Bognor went further behind on 84 minutes.  Watling received the ball from the left and her strike bounced in with a player sliding in on the line as Millwall put the game beyond doubt.

Moments later, Watling hit her freekick into the wall and then the rebound by Maisie Joyce bounced out for a corner.  Atterbury denied another chance from Johnson at her left post soon after.

Right at the end, Lockett made a nice run through defence beating everyone but her strike bounced wide after doing all the hard work.

After two and a half minutes of stoppage time it was Millwall who were the stronger outfit and were deserved winners at Nyewood Lane in the end but Bognor will feel hard done by after a battling display.

FT 2 – 4

Rockettes: Robinson, Gracey, Bradshaw, White, Willett, Robson, Widdowson, Delillis, Hambleton, Carter, Gue. Subs: Atterbury, Thompson, Madden, Downs