Chichester are too accommodating for B&B

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Chichester 2 Bromley and Beckenham 4

Now Pensions Conference East

Chichester still have work to do to protect their National League status after a home defeat to second-placed Bromley and Beckenham.

In the first game against BB this season, Chichester lost 2-1 after leading with five minutes to go – and they were keen to get revenge.

On a miserable day Chichester were cheered on by a strong home support following a Chichester Hockey Club ‘Legends’ fundraising match, and a big thank-you goes from first XI to all who braved the weather on Sunday.

BB dominated the early possession but it was Chichester who created the opening scoring opportunity when Martin Gough turned the last defender – but his goalbound effort was deflected wide.

Chichester grew in stature and started to compete with a slick BB outfit. The visitors took the lead on 16 minutes as poor marking from Chichester left a BB forward free in the D and he calmly slotted the ball past Dan Godsmark in the Chichester goal.

BB doubled their lead soon after – a deflection in the Chichester D once again fell to a BB forward who tapped in their second.

With five minutes to go before the break, Chichester grabbed a goal back when a great individual run from Connor McLaughlin led to him slotting the ball in.

At the break Chichester knew that they were still in it but they had to lift the standard of their basics.

The next goal was key in this edgy match and sadly for Chichester it was BB who scored it through a very well-worked penalty-corner routine. Chichester just about managed to keep their heads above water and reduced the deficit again when Dean Symons’ reverse-stick pass found Ollie Baxter, who brilliantly deflected the ball for Gough to slot in.

Chichester continued to press but were unable to make their final pass count.

BB secured the win with a scramble in the Chichester goalmouth leading to their fourth.

Chichester can take heart from the fact they pushed a well-established National League team all the way but need some points in their final four matches to stay in the league.

A double-header this weekend takes Chichester to West Herts and Richmond.

Worthing Ladies 0 Bognor Town Ladies 1

Bognor had a narrow win when they made the short trip to local rivals and bottom side Worthing.

It was soon apparent this was not the team Bognor had faced on two previous occasions, Worthing fielding a host of new faces.

Early on, it took all the experience of Debbie Cox and Kim Agate to contain the home threat, while relative newcomer Helen Arnold made her mark with strong tackling and solid, sensible ball distribution.

Bognor absorbed the pressure and applied long ball tactics with the evergreen June Rogers and Denise Sandy latching on to them.

Young Nadia Muncey provided swift support and superb tenacity in chasing back and tackling. Halfway through the half, Charlotte Cox was clumsily bounced off the ball and the umpire was forced to issue the offending Worthing player a green card and the whole team given a stern warning.

Shortly afterwards, Charlotte Cox calmly dispossessed the offending player deep in Bognor territory and jinked her way through the midfield and defence to fire a fine solo effort which the keeper partially saved, but only to June Rogers on the far post. Rogers slotted home to put Bognor one up.

A deflected ball into the face of Arnold forced her to retire for recovery. Sub Heather Wadey came into the high attacking role, Denise Sandy was called back into midfield and Vanessa Green covered the right defensive role.

In the second half, Worthing tried everything to find a way through the Bognor defence. Sue Perry and Agate chased down the midfield and Emma Hunt was effective in the centre.

Charlotte Cox peppered the goal from all angles and the keeper made a fine reflex save when Wadey deflected a Perry exocet pass towards the top right corner.

Worthing threw everything forward but the Bognor girls kept the shots away, and the few efforts that came anywhere near young keeper Lily Morris were dealt with effectively.

In the final moments, Hunt sustained a serious hand injury but it did not stop her completing the match.

BOGNOR: Charlotte Cox, Kim Agate, Emma Hunt, Helen Arnold, Lily Morris, Nadia Muncey, Debbie Cox, Vanessa Green, June Rogers, Sue Perry, Denise Sandy, Heather Wadey and Sue Woodal.