Published Date:
22 July 2008
Bognor edged past Southern League side Gosport Borough to record their first pre-season victory at the third attempt.
It was another lovely summer's evening for a game which saw Mick Jenkins field a high number of younger players from the large squad he is gathering together.
The Rocks sprang a surprise with the inclusion of James Krause in attack. The former Ipswich Town youth player spent last season at Crawley Town.
After a slow start Bognor finally threatened on 22 minutes. Krause set Michael McEnery clear down the left and his centre to the far post was met by Ryan Hirooka, who sent a first-time volley just wide of the post.
The visitors matched that effort six minutes later. James Ford fed a neat ball into the area and Tommy McCormac skipped his marker before thumping a shot just wide of the post. in the Rocks goal.
Gosport threatened again five minutes before the break when skipper Glen Howles forced a flying save from Tom Taylor in the Rocks goal.
Alex Pike's men looked the more coherent side and Rocks skipper Jamie Whisken had to be alert to cut out a Danny Thompson centre.
Half-time: Bognor Regis Town 0 Gosport Borough 0
Borough had strong claims for a penalty turned down at the start of the second half.
Substitute John Wilson outsprinted Sam Pearce in the box and appeared to be brought down by Taylor as he chipped the ball over the keeper, but referee Dean Treleaven was unmoved by appeals for a spot-kick.
Former Hawks keeper Taylor came to Bognor's rescue on the hour. Borough striker Nathan Lynch sprang the offside trap but his attempt to square to a team-mate was thwarted by the keeper's legs.
It was Bognor who went in front on 62 minutes. McEnery's centre was meant for the onrushing Chris Clark but instead was turned into his own net by the unfortunate Michael WHITE.
Borough should have been level on 70 minutes but a fine flowing move ended with Lynch sweeping his close-range shot over the crossbar.
Ben Johnson wasted a glorious chance to double Bognor's lead with ten minutes. Josh Dutton-Black robbed McCormac close to the byline and fed Johnson in the box, but the midfielder wanted too much time and saw his shot smothered by a Borough defender.
From the resultant corner, Pearce's shot struck the crossbar and Alex Ward headed over from virtually under the woodwork.
As the Rocks finished strongly Paul Hinshelwood saw his long-range effort brilliantly turned around the post by substitute keeper Mark Brown.
Bognor: Tom Taylor, Paul Hinshelwood, Rubin French, Alex Ward, Sam Pearce, Jamie Whisken, Ryan Hirooka, Chris Clark, Michael McEnery, James Krause, Ben Johnson. Subs: Josh Dutton-Black, Ryan Hill, Tom Broadbent, Ollie Barton.
Gosport: Frampton, Jones, D Birmingham, Ford, White, Thomas, Puckett, Howles, Lynch, Bennett, McCormack. Subs: Thompson, Boud, Chudy, O'Neil.
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Last Updated:
22 July 2008 9:33 PM
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Source:
n/a
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Location:
Chichester