It came down to the final game of the season away to Aylesford where the Rockettes were narrowly beaten by their hosts with just a single goal.  Despite a big effort in front of an impressive crowd, Bognor deserved more, but finished second in the London & South East Regional Women’s Division 1 South, after a terrific season.

Following a nervy start to the game, as expected, the Rockettes had the first half chance as Kate Delillis’s cross was searching for Rhiannon Hambleton. The ball ricocheted back to Delillis who swerved her effort wide of the post.

On 13 minutes, Lou Lou Robson’s cross was headed out to Millie Carter, who hit it from distance.  Unfortunately, the ball flew over the bar.

Also looking dangerous with freekicks was Sophia Polling and one bounced kindly to Hambleton, but from the edge of the box, she steered her chance wide.

Young Leya Burchett was impressive again in the Bognor goal, as she denied Kara Richardson a goal at her near post.

Burchett was again called into action on 29 minutes after a misplaced pass out from the back was met by Rebecca Keyte. Though Burchett saved that, before tipping another chance off the crossbar before gathering the ball, following another opportunity for the hosts.

Rockettes captain, Jade Widdowson was shown a yellow card for a challenge near the halfway line on 32 minutes.

A hold up play ensued as the referee had gone down after damaging his calf following a tumble off the ball.  This held up play on 37 minutes.

But it was Aylesford who got their goal on 40 minutes as Richardson burst through the Bognor defence before she chipped the ball over Burchett, onto the crossbar, and it took a deflection off the left post and into the net.  Unlucky really, how it went in.

Sade Rider denied Bognor an equaliser just before half time as a Robson long range freekick was nodded towards goal by Delillis, as the goalkeeper caught the ball confidently.

HT 1 – 0

Robson’s freekicks were proving difficult for Aylesford as she drove another into the area, but that was headed agonisingly over the bar.

Then Carter’s corner found the head of Robson in the heart of the box.  Robson did well to glance her header down towards the bottom left corner but it was a great save from Rider to deny her with an inspired dive on 50 minutes.

Carter won another freekick for Bognor.  Polling stepped up but struck the long range effort high over the goal.

A double chance for the hosts came and went as a bouncing cross found Beth Hulme, but her strike was blocked.  Then Juliette Blyghton, who assisted two of the goals back at Nyewood Lane, hit it on the rebound but that flew just over the bar.

Bognor’s best chance to draw level came on 63 minutes as Hambleton picked out Carter through the defence.  After a good run into the box, Rider was quick out of her goal to deny Carter’s low effort.

Another Robson freekick had to be pushed around the post by Rider as it bounced awkwardly in the area.

Then a scramble in the area saw Carter with only the goalkeeper to beat but she couldn’t get her boot on it from close range.

On 73 minutes, dangerous work on the edge of the box by Carter and Hambleton saw them pass it back to Delillis but she fired it over the bar.

Then Gabrielle Hawkins went into the book for her late challenge outside Bognor’s penalty area.

It was moments later when Widdowson received her second yellow card of the afternoon and was sent off on 84 minutes, leaving Bognor down to ten women.

In a worrying moment Danni Bradshaw collapsed off the ball.  After treatment she did get back to her feet and was substituted after a hard-working display.

Polling hit another freekick wide on 88 minutes.

Deep into stoppage time, Delillis had another two chances for Bognor.  One she sent bouncing wide and another, a low effort, which was saved.

But after 13 minutes of stoppage time it was Aylesford who took the title.  However, Bognor have impressed all season and were deserved runners up, pushing their hosts the whole way.  They collected their medals after the final whistle in front of the biggest Rockettes away support ever.  20 games, 13 wins, 5 draws and just 2 losses.  Those two losses coming against the title winners.  This finish is a marked improvement on last season’s sixth place finish.  Fans are already looking forward to the 2025/26 season.

FT 1 – 0

Rockettes: Burchett, Gue, Bradshaw (Bowditch 86), Polling, Willett (Thorns 90+1), Delillis, Widdowson (c), Madden (Gracey 64), Hambleton, Robson (Thompson 81), Carter

Sub not Used: Robinson (GK)