Wealdstone 2 – 3 Bognor Regis Town
Wealdstone2 - 3
Bognor Regis TownSolid Rocks and Rolling Stones
For the first hour of this match there was really only one team in it, visitors Bognor were sharper, quicker, stronger and more accurate with their passing , allowing Stones to chase the game at best while they took a 3 – 0 first half lead.
Bognor opened the scoring on 19 minutes when a deep cross was well met by the unmarked Russell who made no mistake with the header. Bognor continued to play the much better football at pace and scored a second on 23 minutes when Rowland cut in from the left and drilled a great shot into the far corner for a 2 – 0 advantage, giving Carter in the Stones goal no chance. The visitors third came on 40 minutes when a poor clearance from Tucker found Howell who played a square ball across to Funnell. His control and movement gave him a sight of goal and he deftly chipped Carter into the far corner for 3 – 0.
Just before the interval there was an unfortunate incident when in a strong 50/50 challenge, Hudson cleared for Bognor, kicking through the ball, his shin connecting with the underside of Hammatt’s boot – there was a horrible crack and Hudson was stretchered off with what looked like a broken shin, play continuing after a delay with a throw in.
half time saw Wealdstone make changes to personnel and formation and as the second half started Stones got stronger and started to take the game to the visitors but it was on the hour when a challenge from Amarteifio where he made contact with ball outside the area saw the referee award the visitors a penalty which was sent wide.
This sparked Stones on to greater things and on 66 minutes a good move saw walker collect on 18 yards, his step and shot was good enough to break Stones duck and to bring them back into the game.
Some ten minutes later and a Stones corner was only half cleared, the return cross found Hammatt whose header hit the post and rebounded into play where Shaw was quickest to react, scoring Stones second from close range.
Much as they tried though, Wealdstone couldn’t score a third and Bognor took the points, somewhat fortuitously on the second half performance but more than deserved on their first half play.
Wealdstone: Andy Carter, Robin Tucker, Fergus Moore (s45Robert Connelly), Richard McDonnagh (s80 Ricky Pither), Billy Amarteifio (b58), Paul Lamb (b36), Vinny Somers, Jason Shaw (75), Dennis Greene (s45 Lee Walker 66), Bryan Hammatt (b52), Danny Tilbury.