Bognor boss: Balance of our team is nowhere near right

The Rocks fired blanks and lost to a late goal as they failed to build on back-to-back league wins – and Pearce warned inconsistent results would probably continue for a while.

The Rocks host East Thurrock on Saturday then go to Cray Wanderers next Wednesday as they bid for a run of form that will push them up among the division’s pacesetters.

Pearce said: “At Cheshunt we started brightly but totally lost our way. If one team deserved to win it, it was Cheshunt. Our forward play was non-existent.

“But we need a little understanding. We have new combinations of full-backs, centre-halves, central midfielders and forwards.

“It’s a lot of change all at once but the balance of the team is nowhere near right at the moment and it will take at least a month to settle down.”

Pearce said it might be necessary to lose players from the squad and bring in replacements.

Coach Robbie Blake said the display at Cheshunt was ‘very poor’ and had left him feeling flat.

“We didn’t really create one chance,” he said.

Report and picture special from Bognor's trip to Cheshunt.

“We’ve got a team that likes to play at home where the pitch is great and the facilities are great.

“We’ve got a very young team but the frustrating thing is not one of our forward players can come away (from the Cheshunt game) with any credit.

“It doesn’t sit well with me when it looks like some don’t care.”

Blake said there were too many players whose body language looked wrong and added: “You need everyone giving 110 per cent effort.”

He said the management would be determined to put smiles back on the players’ faces at training this week ahead of Saturday’s game.

The Rocks continue to be hampered by injuries and other unavailability.

Full-back Calvin Davies is having to self-isolate after a holiday abroad but is due back soon, while attacking duo Alfie Lis and Jason Parish are on their way to fitness.

Veteran James Crane is due to have knee surgery at the end of October but is unlikely to play in 2020, while Chad Field is working his way to fitness after long-term injury.