This was a huge game for County and a pretty important one for the home side also, with the visitors trying to arrest a slide following three successive defeats while Bognor were anxiously looking over their shoulders at the third relegation place which was just three points away.

County fans expressed concerns when they saw that the trusty Nathan Davies was missing from the starting line-up, a hamstring injury depriving the team of the presence of the club’s appearance record holder, while Craig Hughes, who missed Easter Monday’s setback at Havant, was only fit enough to take a place on the substitute’s bench.  Andy Gurney was restored to more familiar midfield territory in place of Davies, while Paul Cochlin took his place at centre back after also having to miss the Havant game, and top scorer Charlie Griffin was promoted from the bench.  Glyn Thompson returned in goal after seven match injury absence.

The Amber Army turned out in force in response to the club’s marvellous gesture in offering free travel, and Bognor were super hosts.  The policing and stewarding were both of the highest standard while the behaviour of the fans appeared good humoured and impeccable.

The match started with County kicking up the slope towards the home support and Cochlin was desperately close with a fifth minute header from a trade mark Gurney free-kick that had Craig Stoner in the home goal relieved to see clipping the outside of the upright.  Most of the early action was at the Bognor end with Julian Alsop and Griffin also going close though the Rocks produced the most fluent move yet in the 14th minute when Seb Wallis-Tayler combined with Alex Haddow before unleashing a left footed shot which Thompson needed to be at his best to stop.  There was an optimistic shout for a penalty from the Bognor bench when Bowen made contact with a home forward in the County penalty area but referee Lee Collins was having none of it and he was already showing that there are some talented young officials around.  He was confident but not demonstrative, and appeared to be communicating well with the players.

Half-time arrived with little in the way of goalmouth action though County were probably just about edging the encounter in terms of possession without producing the quality of final ball to create more than half chances.  Bognor have acquired a deserved reputation as a passing side over the years and they showed that they still pursue the values of Jack Pearce in their approach to the game, though the great man has now handed over team management to long-serving Michael Birmingham, while turning his own talents to selling raffle tickets on match days!

County were literally handed a great opportunity on 51 minutes when Richard Evans burst down the left and hit a cross that was just pleading for Alsop or Griffin to head into the net.  Bognor’s Andy Pearson certainly appeared to think so anyhow, and raised his arm to stop the ball reaching its intended destination.  Quite why the Bognor defender questioned the award of the spot-kick was not clear but he earned a booking which the handball alone deserved.  JASON BOWEN accepted the invitation to score from the penalty, selling Stoner a dummy before firmly planting the ball in the opposite corner to the delight of the massed support behind the goal.

The stakes had been raised and David Birmingham picked up the game’s second caution for a challenge on Thompson before being summarily withdrawn by his brother in the dug-out.  However, Bognor created their best chance just passed the hour mark only for Dan Beck to fire the wrong side of the upright with only Thompson standing between him and an equaliser.  The match had developed into a fascinating contest with some neat interchange from Beck and strike partner Saheed Sankoh who frequently dropped deep and created space for others to advance into, but the outcome was effectively decided on 65 minutes with as good a team goal as County will score all season.

Hughes had replaced Alsop five minutes earlier and he neatly side-footed a Steve Jenkins pass into the path of the advancing LEE FOWLER who easily beat Stoner with the Rocks defenders standing like statues in awe at the fluency of the move.  An unfortunate comment from home boss Birmingham following a harsh offside decision against a home forward then resulted in the referee requiring the Bognor manager to vacate the dug-out, and Bognor frustration was clearly increasing as their tally of home defeats this season was heading inevitably towards double figures.  Gurney was cautioned for dissent before the lively Evans forced a diving save from Stoner and Beck again squandered a chance for the home side.

Gurney and Fowler were revelling in their midfield partnership and County were able to close out the game in complete control though Hughes and Rocks defender Darren Jupp (Guppy and Juppy?) forced more clerical work from Collins after a playground squabble near the touchline.  The County players expressed their appreciation of their superb support at the end and a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon out ended with the away fans being wished well by the stewards and police.

Man of the Match:

Bognor: Seb Wallis-Tayler - good left wing overlaps.

County: Richard Evans - worked hard throughout attacking and defending.

Special mention: Lee Fowler - his best game yet for County and a superb goal.