A new-look Rocks’ bid to climb up the Ryman League table received a massive boost as they thumped Tonbridge 3-1 at Nyewood Lane this afternoon.
Bognor went into this relegation six-pointer with a number of new faces in the Rocks line-up.
These included Jacob Walcott on loan from Reading, who is a cousin of Arsenal and England star Theo Walcott.
Walcott marked his first appearance in perfect fashion, opening the scoring in only the second minute.
He collected the ball on the right to send over a looping cross which keeper Lee Worgan could only palm into the net.
In the 15th minute, Tonbridge equalised when a looping cross from the left was met at the far post by Tom Bryant who rifled home from close range.
Walcott was proving to be a handful for the visiting defence, creating numerous openings – and at one point was scythed by Bryant.
However, in the 26th minute Bognor regained the lead when Scott Kinch was adjudged to have handled the ball in the penalty area and Luke Nightingale made no mistake, sending Worgan the wrong way.
Tonbridge nearly levelled for the second time when Kinch sent his free-kick narrowly wide.
However, Bognor went further ahead three minutes before the break when a well-worked move saw the ball arrive at the feet of Nightingale who coolly slotted home from 12 yards.
There was further drama in the half’s closing stages when Bognor were reduced to 10 men when James Crane received his marching orders for a second bookable offence before Tonbridge captain Scott Gooding was stretchered off.
Tonbridge started the second period the stronger side and forced a succession of corners, although the Rocks’ rearguard dealt with these comfortably.
On the hour mark Kirk Watts sent over a testing effort which Anthony Ender did well to palm over the bar.
The second period did not live up to the standards of the first with Tonbridge enjoying more possession.
However, Tom Bryant became the second Tonbridge player to be stretchered off when he suffered a nasty injury in the closing stages..
Bognor :-
Anthony Ender, James Crane, Micky Demetriou, Daniel Joyce, Tim Bond, Lewis Dunk, Jacob Walcott, Matt Wood, Jason Prior, Luke Nightingale, Dan Beck
Subs - Charlie Oatway, Charlie Marshall, Harry Bowles, Ross Woolf, Jamie Howell
Reproduced with thanks to the Sports Mail and the Observer.
www.thenews.co.uk and www.bognor.co.uk
