Tonbridge (0) 1 Blewden 61
Bognor Regis Town (2) 3 Prior 26,29, Rutherford 53
Attendance: 377
Entrance: £10
Programme: £2.50
Mileage: 36/5,360
Match Report
On a very rare occurrence this season, Tonbridge were out-fought, out-thought and, at least in the first half, out-played.
The evening started badly with the absence of the talismanic midfielder, Tom Parkinson, who was unavailable through illness.
On a bitterly cold evening, the teams took to the field for a fixture that neither club particularly wanted. The Isthmian League had insisted that the game be brought forward one week to comply with their "postponed games to be played as soon as possible" mandate. From Tonbridge's point of view it was likely to cost them revenue with difficulties in publicising the late change of date and a clash with Arsenal v Barcelona on satellite television, whilst I would imagine Bognor were not over-pleased about having to fulfil the fixture in the week before their Trophy quarter-final.
Bognor opened the game in the manner in which they were to continue, dominating possession, but strangely it was the home side that carved out the early chances. After just two minutes, Luke Allen fastened onto a poor clearance and struck a powerful shot that the Rocks' keeper, Grant Smith held as it headed for the top corner.
After 14 minutes, Bradley Woods-Garness was sent clear and tucked the ball past the advancing Smith but also narrowly past the post and, a couple of minutes later, Nick Wheeler fired a shot straight at Smith.
Jerrome Sobers planted a header wide of the post following a corner before Bognor had their first dangerous moment on goal after 25 minutes. Anthony Di Barnardo made a double save before a shot from Doug Tuck was cleared from the line by Sobers.
Tonbridge's reprieve lasted barely two minutes. Following a corner, the ball was headed forward by Jason Prior, at first into the clutches of Di Barnardo who allowed the ball to slip from his grasp to afford Prior the claim of his 22nd goal of the season.
Two minutes later, Bognor doubled their advantage. Anthony Riviere lost possession outside of his own penalty area, the ball was fed to the right from where Stuart Green delivered the perfect cross to the head of an unmarked Prior, who cannot be afforded an inch, let alone an acre.
The visitors, high on confidence, poured all over their hosts and after 36 minutes the game should have been all over as a contest. Another cross from the right, this time found Alfie Rutherford, who with time and space and the goal at his mercy, inexplicably placed it wide of the right hand post.
Wheeler was substituted during the break by Luke Blewden and after 52 minutes, Sonny Miles went down injured to be replaced by Laurence Ball.
If Steve McKimm's half time message had been about comebacks, it was reduced to playing for pride after 53 minutes. A solo run down the left from Rutherford was finished with a delightful chip over Di Barnardo, who had barely advanced to the six yard box.
Tommy Whitnell entered the fray on the hour and immediately had a hand in Tonbridge's, ultimately consolation, goal. His free kick from the left hand side of the box was played back across the face of goal by Ball for Blewden to tuck home from close range. Three substitutes, each with a touch.
Time could have been Tonbridge's friend but, in truth, Bognor saw the game out with very little trouble.
Bad days at the office happen, it is how teams react that is important and with another championship chasing club, Hampton & Richmond, the visitors on Saturday it is time to dust themselves down and bounce back.
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