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The Sports, and a large support, made the trip along the coast to Bognor Regis Town, not historically a fruitful fixture, for a Friday night fixture to cater for England .v. Israel on the original Saturday. Darren Baker and Paul Armstrong returned to the starting 11 whilst ex Boro players Ollie Rowland started on the bench for The Rocks, Dan Beck up front.
Bognor stick to their principles of fast, flowing football but Boro were determined not to let the home side settle and as early as the 1st minute Andy Atkin flicked on for Scott Ramsay to be denied by a defensive block from 15 yards. Boro dominated early on and it took several minutes for Bognor to advance into the visitors half, Becks long range effort only troubling the occupiers of the flats outside the ground behind the goal. Pat Harding delivered a wonderful low cross from the right that was cleared by Chris Breach, and the right hand side was again the source of a fabulous cross from Ben Austin; Ramsay’s weak header not testing Craig Stoner. Boro were playing some attractive football and Matt Crabb, cutting inside, played an inch perfect ball into the path of Atkin, his 1st touch just unable to shake off the attention of the centre-back. Matt Smart cut back a ball across the 18 yard box for Ramsay on 10 minutes, unfortunately the Boro No. 9’s 1st time shot was always rising over the bar. Austin was a real attacking threat but he, along with Marc Pullan, Jay Lovett and Baker were also committed in their defence of Lee Hooks goal.
After Boro’s almost complete dominance of the 1st 20 minutes Bognor began to find their feet. Beck again shot weakly with an attempted lob that Hook gathered easily on 21 minutes. Harding and Ramsay both had opportunities to finish; Scott especially wasteful of an Austin cross that found his head 6 yards out on 22 minutes. On the half hour Beck had 2 chances to test Hook but Baker and co. again prevented shots on target from the prolific No. 9. The game was now a far more even affair but on 44 minutes Boro opened the scoring. Luke Nightingale committed a foul in the centre-circle. The free-kick was played wide left to Crabb. His delivery into the area was challenged by Atkin and as the ball fell on the edge of the 6 yard box Harding was on hand to smash the ball home, 1-0 The Sports.
No changes to either side at half-time but Boro again started well, Harding’s shot blocked in the 47th minute. On 50 minutes Bognor had a free-kick close to the Boro penalty area. The kick was poor but the rebound was struck 1st time hard and low; Hook called on to save low at the right-hand post. Bognor brought on Rowlands and Michael Birmingham on 55 minutes and not only did this herald 20 minutes of home pressure but also almost produced an immediate goal as the 2 combined to set Beck away on goal, Austin snuffing out the run. Crabb and Armstrong both had chances for Boro but on 62 minutes a half clearance by Pullan was returned goal wards from 30 yards. Hook was beaten to his left but the woodwork came to Boro’s rescue; the ball striking the upright and away. Bognor now dominated possession and territory but the pressure ultimately came to nothing, Hook not again seriously tested. On 86 minutes Ramsay could have wrapped the points up. A long clearance beat both centre-backs and Scott showed great strength to get in front of both players and cooly lob Stoner from 40 yards. Stoner looked beat on the edge of the area but as he turned to watch the ball drop into the net he must have been cheered to see the ball bounce just wide of his left-hand post and out for a goal-kick. However Ramsay made up for the miss 2 minutes into injury time. He again employed his strength wide left. He turned inside and calmly picked out the advancing Scott Chamberlain with a low cross; the Brighton loanee gently wrong-footing Stoner with his 1st time effort; the ball rolling into the bottom left-hand corner.
Goals win games and games won pile up the points. It is true to say that Boro were out played for short periods in the fixture but equally had extended periods of dominance themselves when their pace, power and own passing football kept the home side back in their own half and restricted them to long range efforts. The large travelling support, surely half of the 472 present, were glad to have finally won at The Rocks and maintain the excellent start to 2007/2008.
Match Details - Webmaster.
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