A strong second half effort from the Nyewood Lane hosts gave them a deserved draw against a mixed Brighton side.
The Seagulls were watched by Gus Poyet on the sidelines as he tried out most of his reserve and youth team players. Though some first team players, such as Mitch Walker and Adam El-Abd started the match.
The Rocks welcomed back Craig Stoner in goal, with Matthew Whitehead, Clive Snell and Phil Turner the new faces in the starting line up. Luke Nightingale was seen running in training before the match, but did not feature.
Jason Prior was a surprise start, after fears of a slight groin problem.
Both teams looked strong from the onset. But it was Richard Hudson's freekick that was the first clear chance for either side. However, Walker easily saved his curled effort from outside the box.
And moments later Turner won a corner for the hosts on the right. Though Hudson's looping cross was cleared away by the visiting defence.
Turner was again in the action moments later, linking well with captain James Crane. Though the lively winger couldn't quite latch onto the right back's forward pass.
Brighton & Hove replied when Jamie Smith curled in a cross from the right. But after finding both heads of Chris Holroyd and Glenn Murray, neither could direct the ball goalwards.
On 11 minutes Hudson wove in between the defence a few yards from the edge of the area before firing a low shot. Walker was solid to stop the effort easily.
Then moments later Smith got on the end of a cross into the area from the left. His attempted half volley was feeble and bounced comfortably into Stoner's arms.
The Seagulls began to pile on the pressure and on 14 minutes Matty Sparrow drove a corner kick straight onto the head of El-Abd but the ball flew well wide.
Then Smith was brought down in Bognor's half of the field by Mickey Demetriou. But the defender redeemed himself by clearing the ball with a header from a Cristian Baz freekick.
Brighton were lacking in the final third as Andrew Whing ran down the left to cross the ball into the area. Though his cross couldn't find a fellow player.
The impressive Baz then powered a cross to Holroyd whose volley from the centre of the area flew wide of the right post. Demetriou did well to hassle the player into hitting a first time shot.
Rocks were having problems finding a breakthrough, as Matt Woods cross couldn't find a green and white shirt as Walker comfortably gathered.
Some good work all-round from the hosts came when Whitehead tackled Baz in his own half. The defender then played the ball forward to Prior, who laid the ball back to Snell. The new midfielder played a neat pass forward between the defence towards Hudson, though unfortunately the pace of the rolling ball beat him.
Then the visitors appealed for a penalty when Whing's decent cross from the right should have been put away by Holroyd who slid in on the back post. Though the referee ignored the claims as the ball rolled off for a goalkick.
With 7 minutes remaining of the first half Baz fired the ball across goal after being fed by Smith as they tried to create an opening.
Perhaps the visitors should have done better 2 minutes later, when Gar Dicker smashed an instant curling shot high and wide.
The breakthrough came on 44 minutes when Murray beat the offside trap to easily slot beyond Stoner after good work from teammate Holroyd.
HT 0-1
After a session of penalty practice for the visitors during half time, a lot of changes were made.
Will Sturgeon and Phil Turrell started the second half for the Rocks, replacing Turner and Tim Bond. Whilst Brighton brought on Eric Midtgarden for Murray.
Midtgarden was quickly in the thick of the action when he got on the end of a Baz cross. But the strong forward miscued his header.
Moments later Midtgarden fired well over the bar after a weak clearance.
On 53 minutes Demetriou won a freekick after a steaming run through the defence. He had been placed up front after a lack of strikers when Prior was brought off for Charlie Marshall. Hudson's freekick from well outside the area wouldn't dip as it sailed over the bar.
Substitutions came on 58 and 59 minutes when first Baz came off for Gar Hart for Brighton and Whitehead was replaced by Stuart Axten.
The Seagulls extended their lead on 60 minutes when Midtgarden fired in an instant shot on the turn into the bottom right corner, beating the outstretched arm of Stoner in the process.
And the visitors could have gone 3-0 up when Smith tried to chip Stoner on the volley from just inside the area, but the 'keeper somehow tipped the effort wide.
It looked all over for the Rocks as El-Abd headed a cross that was whipped low inside the area. His effort rattled the post and was cleared by the defence.
Rocks replied when Demetriou ran through on goal, beating Grant Hall in defence. He was destined to score but his shot was saved by the legs of Walker.
On 69 minutes, 9 reserve and youth players came on to replace ,Walker, Whing, Marcos Painter, Smith, Hall, El-Abd, Holroyd, Dicker and Sparrow in a complete change.
Bognor pulled a goal back on 73 minutes. A decent half-volleyed cross from Demetriou was met by the head of the 6 foot 3 Axten who neatly headed the ball over Walker and into the bottom right corner of the net.
Much to the pleasant surprise of the home support, the Rocks drew the scores level. On 80 minutes Michael Birmingham curled a freekick from around 35 yards, of which the goalkeeper could only get a small hand onto.
Rocks held out but not without suffering a slight injury to Phil Turrell who clashed in a 50/50 challenge with Hart after he blocked the striker's shot at the last moment. Bond came on again to fill in and help the Rocks to achieve a decent result against locals Brighton & Hove Albion.
Bognor's joint manager, Jamie Howell was impressed by his team's performance. I was pleased with the performance. To be fair to the team I thought we did well through the first half. I was pleased as it was quite a tight game, quite close and I think we competed very well.
I was very pleased with Matty Whitehead whose come in and done so well. Overall with the team performance and fitness I was very pleased.
Axten's goal was the turning point in the match but Howell explained why the defender started from the bench. He had a slight back strain so we didn't want to start him so we decided to give him 30 minutes to feel himself into the game.
Its going to to take him time to fit in with the players and play well. But he's at a good size and it was a good goal.
It was quite an untypical Bognor goal really with the long ball. But that's what we need to vary our game and have different options.
Full Time 2-2
Teams:
Bognor: Stoner, Crane ©, Whitehead, Snell, Bond, Demetriou, Hudson, Birmingham, Prior, Wood, Turner
Subs: Axten, Piper, Sturgeon, Cachia, Marshall, Turrell
Brighton: Walker, Whing, Painter, Hall, El-Abd, Sparrow, Dicker, Smith, Baz (Hart 57), Murray (Midtgarden HT), Holroyd (Unknown 7 players but included Wilkins and George Barker who played for Rocks last year)
Reproduced with thanks to the Sports Mail and the Observer.
www.thenews.co.uk and www.bognor.co.uk
