Royals clinch last gasp Bognor revenge success

By Connor Steel

AFC PORTCHESTER avenged their thrilling opening day defeat against Bognor Regis Town as they travelled for this reverse fixture on Saturday afternoon (November 29); eventually clinching a two-one away success versus their local opponents after a deserved ninety-eighth minute winner watched by five hundred fans at Oaklands Park (Chichester).

The visitors started quicker on a slick pitch surface and created the first chance within four minutes when a cute inch-perfect cross found the path of Josh Clack; who spun the man but sadly hooked over the bar. Alfie Stanley soon went closer on thirteen minutes when he sliced another cross down into the bottom corner only to be denied by the keeper.

Bognor absorbed this early pressure and began to work themselves into the match with some neat possession, which led to multiple corners that were dealt with comfortably by two Portchester defenders. But the home side did open the scores on twenty-six minutes through Finlay Chadwick, who nestled into the corner to score a good goal on his debut.

Lee Wort almost sealed an immediate response as his header was superbly blocked off the line and Clack also hit the follow-up over the bar on thirty-one minutes, whilst Stanley fired wide and blazed over in quick succession. In contrast Bognor seemed content to protect the lead and they managed it until the break despite an injury for Kash Kasukumya.

Away dominance extended into this second period and the Royals could have levelled on fifty-four minutes; Stanley’s shot deflecting perfectly to reach Clack who could only slice the drive straight at Dan Lincoln. The Bognor goalkeeper further saved a swerving attempt from Tommy Scutt before Chadwick was booked on the hour for a late niggly tackle.

Lemmie Smith went close with a skidding effort for Bognor before away frustration threatened to ruin their momentum; Jack Lee having a clash with rival Callum Laycock that resulted in the duo being shown yellows by the official. But the visitors kept pushing and scrambled in the equaliser on seventy minutes; Archie Wilcox converting with this deft touch.

Substitutions signalled a  lull before a flurry of Portchester chances arrived in the final ten minutes; Wort and Spencer Spurway going close before Charlie Williamson placed wide in this eighty-eighth minute with Bognor surviving it. This was until the last kick of the game when Reuben Austin ran a ball forward and fired into the net off the bar for this win,

These three points mean that Gav Spurway’s team are eighth in the Isthmian Division standings after a brilliant run of form in late November, which has seen them win three of the last four games and draw the other versus Egham Town. They now have a week off before they host Harrow Borough next Saturday and then visiting Binfield on December 13.

PICTURED BY BOGNOR REGIS TOWN FC MEDIA: Players from both sides contest for the midfield ball in the game.