Report – Bognor Regis Town 0 – 3 Wealdstone
Bognor Regis Town
0 - 3
WealdstoneThis was all about a highly disciplined defensive and counter attacking performance from Stones, with new signings and debutants Marcus Johnson-Schuster and Ian Gayle putting in great shifts with keeper Jon North making some outstanding stops.
A spectacular own goal gifted the away side the lead in the first half, but sheer hard work and graft eventually brought reward in the second with goals from Gayle and a beauty from Abo Eisa. A minute after Wealdstone’s second goal, midfielder Ricky Wellard was sent off for a second yellow offence that will see him miss next Saturday’s home league clash with Weston super Mare.
Credit to Stones for coping comfortably with the Rocks desperate attacking spell in the last 20 minutes when reduced to 10 men.
Stones started brightly on a wet but perfectly playable surface, and after a good Dave Pratt run the away side gained two corners in rapid succession. But after a hesitant start the Rocks hit back with some decent forward play of their own and Ibra Sekajji shot wide when well placed. Appeals for a home penalty were waved away in a good little spell for Bognor when Tommy Scutt was challenged in the box.
Abo Eisa was not finding the positional understanding and space to use his blistering pace but stuck to his task with the ever-willing Pratt up front – surely his luck will change soon as he seeks to find his opener. North had to be alert on 21 minutes when Rocks defender Sami El-Abd powered in a header.
Both sides were now effectively cancelling each other out in a midfield tussle but with Stones digging in well and occasional hitting back with Pratt the main outlet.
The fortuitous break-through for Wealdstone came on 39 minutes. Danny Green sent in a trademark free kick after Eisa had been upended outside the area. From the floated kick, home winger Scutt majestically powered into his own net to hand the advantage to the away side before the break.
Pratt then went on a searing run but struck wide of the far post as the half ended.
Stones looked livelier from the off in the second period with Bognor countering. North saved magnificently to keep his side ahead and when Rocks skipper El-Abd hobbled off with an injury one sensed a further advantage to Stones and, so it proved.
Eisa finally broke free of the shackles and fired across goal with Pratt just missing out on 54 minutes.
But after a further period of decent possession from Bognor, Stones grabbed the killer goal 10 minutes later. Another Green corner was fired in front the right and Gayle pounced to poke the ball past Dan Lincoln via a congested goal mouth.
A minute later and Ricky Wellard, last week’s FA Trophy hero was dispatched after a second yellow card. Stones re-organised efficiently and locked in.
Rocks saw a chink of light and now piled forward as Stones defended in numbers. This pressure culminated in another fantastic save from North who flung himself across the sticks to push away a flicked header
As Stones manager Bobby Wilkinson implored his charges to manage the game out they did just that and killed the contest off. With 15 minutes to go, Eisa blasted a fantastic effort into the top corner from a tight angle and it was all over
Bognor may well feel aggrieved with all their possession, but their fans admitted after the game that it’s all about finding the net, and Stones were able to execute that, building on some good fortune, whilst snuffing out every single chance at the other end.
WEALDSTONE: North, Johnson-Schuster, Okimo, Oshodi, Gayle, Cox, Whichelow, Wellard, Pratt, Green, Eisa. Sub used: Tiryaki. Not used: Allen, Fitchett, Artwell, Olomowewe.
By Nick DuGard
Steve Foster pictures HERE