Bognor Regis Town finally on home turf - and they claim three points

Bognor secured their first home win of the season against Carshalton Athletic with first half goals from Joe Cook and Sam Dowridge before Harry Ottaway's goal back near the end.
Bognor celebrate one of their two goals against Carshalton. Picture by Lyn PhillipsBognor celebrate one of their two goals against Carshalton. Picture by Lyn Phillips
Bognor celebrate one of their two goals against Carshalton. Picture by Lyn Phillips

Bognor were finally able to play on home turf after the main stand was finalised. Keaton Wood was dropped to the bench for this fixture against a Carshalton side who had also been eliminated from the FA Cup that previous weekend.

Nyren Clunis ran down the right onto a long pass by the visitors but the ball flew out of play. Jordy Mongoy responded when he ran his way through defence and tried to get the ball across the box but it was denied by goalkeeper Edward Allen.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Bognor Regis Town will take a huge amount of belief into Cheshunt clash after first league victory

Ethan Robb gave the ball away with a poor back pass and Kershaney Samuels almost capitalised but was blocked off at the last moment.

Ashton Leigh and Tom Cooney combined but the ball inside to Alfie Stanley in the box broke down. Cooney then hit a cross straight out of play for a goal kick from the left.

Ernold Haxhou combined with Olowale Sogbanmu in a one two move before hitting a shot which was stopped by Amadou Tangara.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Mongoy eventually got the ball out wide to Ashton Leigh on 11 minutes. He ran on before crossing it cross the face of goal. The goalkeeper watched it bounced agonisingly across his goal mouth and out of play.

Mongoy was cut out with his cross from the right after he used his pace to get beyond the defender. The goalkeeper gathered that as well.

Dowridge and Mongoy combined before Harvey Whyte passed it onto Tommy Leigh and it was he who hit a curling first-touch strike narrowly over the bar on 17 minutes.

Then Mongoy had time to pass out wide to Dowridge and he cut inside but his cross was denied by Allen.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

But Bognor took the lead on 22 minutes. Jake Flannigan crossed it into the area but Alfie Stanley miscued his attempt on his first touch but won a corner anyway. The corner taken by Ashton Leigh found a rising Cook who managed to head the ball in off a defender.

A dangerous long throw by Paris Hamilton-Downes bounced up high into the box but Tangara did well to gather it.

Another long throw soon after by Hamilton-Downes was knocked out to Samuels but after squaring up to it he struck it high and wide from around 25 yards out.

Whyte did well to tee up Dowridge. He then crossed the ball into the area but it was too high for Stanley.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

But a great move on the break for Bognor saw Mongoy and Whyte combine before Dowridge darted inside beyond the defender. He composed himself and smashed it confidently high into the net on 39 minutes to extend the lead.

Moments later Ashton Leigh's floated corner kick was pulled back by the referee for a foul to the visitors, but not for brother Tommy Leigh, who went to ground during the incident.

The Robins tried their luck as the first half came to an end when Luke Read hit one from distance, but it sailed just over the crossbar.

HT 2-0

It was Carshalton who were the brighter of the two sides as the second half began. Kelvin Manuel was brought down but Bognor dealt with the freekick. Then Tommy Bradford made his way into the box but Rocks defenders remained resolute and bravely blocked the attack.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A great chance arrived on 59 minutes for Bognor as Ashton Leigh’s pinpoint cross onto the back post for Dowridge saw him hit the ball on the volley at goal. This forced an instinctive save by Allen to reduce the deficit for the visitors.

Mongoy headed over the crossbar from another Ashton Leigh cross moments later as the opposition brought in fresh blood from the bench.

Bradford was under pressure from the Rocks defenders as he was blocked off with his opportunity seconds later.

Tangara tracked down an Ottaway headed knock on before Nyren Clunis wastefully smashed it high over the bar as Carshalton were desperate to get back into the game.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Another great chance went begging for Bognor when Ashton Leigh's corner bounced out to the feet of Tommy Leigh who was blocked with his chance by a defender on the line. Dowridge followed this up by smashing his effort from distance over.

The Robins pulled a goal back though on 84 minutes. A swift pass from the right across the edge of the area saw Ottaway twist and turn before he beat Tangara with a nicely hit low shot into the bottom right corner.

The goal lifted the hosts. Haxhou headed a corner ball at goal, forcing Tangara into action. The goalkeeper managed to miraculously palm the ball onto the crossbar. Off the framework the ball fell to Bradford on the rebound but he belted it high over the bar.

Samuels went into the book for a late challenge on Cook before a last gasp Hamilton-Downes header over the bar from Bradford's corner was the last chance of the game. Time ran out for Carshalton here but Bognor picked up their first home win of the season with a fine performance which will rebuild some confidence for the players and management.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Next game sees Bognor travel to Cheshunt on Saturday 10th October, 3pm kick off, where they hope to continue with another good result in the league.

FT 2-1

Rocks: Tangara, Flannigan, Cooney, Whyte (C), Cook, Robb, Dowridge, Stanley (Stanley 83), Mongoy, T Leigh, A Leigh

Subs not Used: Wood, Lethbridge, Rowe, Baker