The Rockettes were coming off the back of a 7-0 away defeat to Saltdean in the Quarter Finals of the cup before returning to home league action at the MKM Arena to take on Dartford Development.

Inside the 2nd minute it was Ellie Hinkley who knocked the ball in from close range but she was called offside so the goal didn’t count for Dartford Development.

Mollie Smith hit a long ball through the middle but it was cut out as Dartford started very well.

Kate Dellilis set through Georgina Starkey down the middle but she couldn’t quite get there ahead of Alisha Hickson who gathered it on 7 minutes.

Bognor were starting to string passes together, and Alice Gue was the provider for Starkey on 16 minutes.  She went through unmarked but scuffed her left footed strike wide of the left post.  Bognor’s first chance on goal.

Then Georgia Selby played it forward to Millie Carter and then Dellilis hit one from outside the box and forced Hickson into a diving save, pushing it away for a corner.  Carter hit the corner onto the head of Dellilis but she diverted it well wide.

On 21 minutes Naomi Nash did well to speed down the right before crossing it for the visitors but it flashed across the area and out for a corner.

Then Jade Widdowson pulled out a great last ditch sliding tackle to deny Hinkley a certain goal scoring opportunity.

Smith smacked the crossbar with a strike from just inside the area after a good move down the middle on 27 minutes.

Then Hinkley hit another chance over the bar as Dartford had more of the chances in the first half.

Starkey ran down a lost cause to beat Hickson to the ball on 28 minutes.  Starkey went to ground with the challenge and Annie Gracey fired it wide with her lobbed effort on the rebound.

Nicole Robinson had to save another chance from Hinkley and then Widdowson had to clear it off the line soon after the visitors piled on some pressure deep in the Rockettes half.

On 33 minutes Kirsty Willetts went into the book for a late challenge on Amy Reader after a short run by Annie White.  But Smith hit the freekick from distance straight at Bognor’s goalkeeper Robinson.

Emma Healy received the ball in midfield before setting up Nash but with only the goalkeeper to beat she hit the near side netting on 38 minutes.

Then Carter sprung on a rare attack for Bognor and won a corner.  Carter swung the corner in onto the boot of Downs but she steered it side-footed on the volley but wide.

Down the other end Hinkley got a shot on the bounce too after finding space but it was easily saved by Robinson.

Gracey hit another strike wide of goal and Bognor got a freekick for an apparent handball.  Lou Lou Robson hit the freekick low into the box but it was blocked.  The ball fell to Macie Downs though who diverted it in on the turn low beyond Hickson to give the Rockettes the lead on 43 minutes.

Another booking was shown to Ella Brian for the visitors and then the manager on the touchline was also shown yellow just before half time.

HT: 1-0

Selby set through Gracey on the right but she was blocked with her advance.

Then Healy aas set on a run down the left and got the low cross for Hinkley but after turning with it she stubbed her shot straight at Robinson on 51 minutes.

Hinkley was twisting and turning in the area again but scooped her low shot wide as she was surrounded by defenders.

Elise Jessie Killick came on in the visitor’s first substitution on 57 minutes.  This coming before Smith struck wide from outside the box.

Paige Kersey came on for Georgia Selby on 60 minutes for Bognor’s first change.

Starkey played it out wide with Gue on the overlap.  Gue got the cross in but this was gathered in the air by the goalkeeper.

Widdowson got a yellow for Bognor, as well as Hinkley for Dartford went into the book after her temper flared with Robinson for Bognor on 65 minutes after she had gathered the ball fairly.

Georgia Culpitt and Tilly Roswell came on for the visitors and Hinkley was one of those who came off after the heated exchange moments before.

On 69 minutes it was a great cross from the right which saw Emma Healy get something on it but the ball ricocheted off Gue and into the net for the equaliser.

On 70 minutes it got worse for the Rockettes as Healy scored again.  She forced the save from Robinson but she parried it back out to Healy to divert the ball high into the net to give Dartford the lead.

Willett and Kersey was battling hard and then Kersey’s cross was cut out by the goalkeeper.

Robson and Gracey were replaced by Faye Trinidad and Selby on 73 minutes.

Gue was twisting and turning before squaring to Carter but falling on the turn she stubbed her low effort straight at the goalkeeper on 75 minutes.

Adele Pearce hit a shot from over 25 yards out but it was easily gathered by Robinson on 82 minutes.

Healy was causing lots of problems for the Rockettes and cut inside from the left to shoot again on 84 minutes but Robinson was equal to it.

Olivia Rayfield did well to cut inside to get another shot in for the visitors but again Robinson was solid to save it on 87 minutes.

Chloe Brian was replaced by Smith in a roll on and off substitution for the visitors as they needed to see out the win.

But Bognor got the equaliser in the 90th minute after good work from Carter on the left. She got her cross in from that flank and Starkey battled in the air but the ball ricocheted out to Kate Dellilis who composed herself before slotting it low into the bottom left corner.

Dellilis spotted the keeper off her line and had a dig from distance and somehow the goalkeeper steered it wide right at the end in a chance that could have won the game.    But the referee blew his whistle straight after this final chance to end the game in a draw and a share of the points for both sides.

FT 2-2

Rockettes: 1. Robinson, 2. Gue, 3. Willetts, 4. Downs, 5. Robson, 6. Selby, 7. Carter, 8. Dellilis, 9. Starkey, 10. Trinidad, 11. Gracey, 13. Widdowson, 16 Kersey, 17. Amelia

Dartford: 1. Talisha Hickson, 17 Ella Brian, 6 Annie White, 7 Naomi Nash, 18 Alicia Gibbs, 17 Adele Pearce, 14  Emma Healy, 17 Chloe Brian, 4  Molly Smith, 19 Amy Reader, 16 Ellie Hinkley

Subs: 18 Tilly Roswell, 11 Elise Jessie Killick, 23  Georgia Culpitt, 4  Abi Potter Scarborough, 5  Olivia Rayfield