A Rocks -November- review

Another defeat on the road…

November was another up-and-down month for the Rocks. It began disappointingly with a 2-1 defeat away to Billericay Town. After the game, manager Robbie Blake expressed his frustration that his team's “best away display of the season” had ended in defeat – the Rocks fifth loss on the road in the current league campaign.

The home side took the lead in the 35th minute; Ade Azeez capitalizing on defensive uncertainty to lob Bognor ‘keeper, Ryan Hall. It was a harsh setback late in a half the Rocks had dominated up to that point. But Blake's side continued to press forward – before and after the break - with chances falling to Dan Gifford, Isaac Olaniyan, Lucas Pattenden, and Dan Smith before the equaliser finally arrived in the 70th minute, courtesy of substitute Tommy-Lee Higgs, who netted a fantastic free-kick to level the score at 1-1. Despite their spirited performance, however, Bognor were unable to press-on for the win they arguably deserved. And they were denied even a share of the spoils in the 84th minute when Bradley Stevenson found the net, to put Billericay 2-1 ahead. Try as they might, Bognor could not find a second equaliser. Defeat saw them slip to 16th place in the Premier Division table.
After the match, in an interview with Peter Kelly-Sullivan of Rocks Radio, Robbie Blake praised his team's passing, movement, and overall performance but also highlighted the lack of a killer instinct and bemoaned the "absolutely shocking" defensive mistakes that led to both Billericay goals. He emphasized the need for his players to learn from their errors, particularly in dealing with long balls and being more aggressive in crucial areas.

A heart-warming (and life-saving) donation

The next game saw the Rocks back at the MKM Arena, facing Southern Combination Premier outfit Horsham YMCA in the Sussex Transport Senior Cup. And there was a heartwarming moment before the match when popular Rocks utility-man Calvin Davies presented the Club with a defibrillator generously donated by his ‘other’ employers, Taylor-Wimpey. Calvin works as an assistant site manager with the national house builder, whose commendable practice of donating defibrillators to local sports clubs or charities once they complete work on a local scheme.

General Manager Simon Cook expressed the club’s gratitude for the thoughtful donation, acknowledging the importance of having a defibrillator on hand for emergency situations. "It’s very kind of Taylor Wimpey to donate the defibrillator” he said “and we are delighted that, through Calvin, we were able to be the recipient of the business’s kindness!"

Bognor through to next round of Sussex Transport Senior Cup!

The Rocks sailed into the next round of the Senior Cup with an emphatic home display, putting five past Horsham YMCA. Dan Smith and Dan Gifford each scored braces, while Tom Holland added a late goal after coming on as a substitute. Bognor led 2-0 at half-time.

In the next round, the Rocks will be away to Isthmian Premier rivals Whitehawk. This season’s competition has already thrown-up a few surprises, with Isthmian South-east outfit Littlehampton Town beating Worthing of National League South and SCFL Premier division Steyning Town beating Brighton & Hove Albion.

Another (much-needed) league win

Bognor delivered a commanding performance to beat Haringey Borough 3-0 victory in a fierce, often physical encounter at the MKM Arena, witnessed by 742 enthusiastic fans. All three goals came in the second half. Dan Gifford stole the spotlight with a brace, scored in the 54th and 61st minutes before Dan Smith added a third on 87 minutes to cap a fine team performance. Manager Robbie Blake will have been pleased not only by the way his side took their chances but also by a solid defensive display that earned a rare clean sheet.

The Rocks’ FA Trophy journey comes to an end

This was Bognor’s third consecutive home game and hopes were high that they could complete a hat-trick of wins against Isthmian South Central side South Park, to secure a Fourth Round tie away to Hereford of National League North. Alas, it was not to be. The Reigate-based outfit delivered a clinical performance to secure a convincing 4-1 victory at the MKM Arena.

Bognor began brightly-enough, winning early corners and maintaining possession, so it was slightly against the run-of-play that Jamarie Brissett gave Park the lead in the 19th minute, when he burst through the home defence to deliver a superb strike beyond Hall and into the net. The Rocks pressed for an equaliser but struggled to convert their possession into chances – and when they finally managed a first shot on target, on 26 minutes, Daniel Bracken in the South Park goal saved well from Calvin Davies's direct free-kick. So, 1-0 down at half-time

Hopes of a second half comeback were quickly diminished by Aiden Brown’s well-taken effort on 49 minutes - and when Samuel King added a third just three minutes later, the game was all but over. Bognor were still struggling to create chances and were lucky not to concede a fourth when Higgs hit the crossbar with a powerful strike on 70 minutes. The Rocks did manage to pull a goal back on 72 minutes: a Calvin Davies's free-kick found Craig Robson, whose header hit the post and Dan Smith pounced to head home the rebound. Any lingering hopes of a late recovery were extinguished on 85 minutes when Benjamin Jordan converted a penalty for South Park after Brissett was fouled in the area.

On the road again…

With five away defeats in the league already this season – and that disappointing FA Trophy exit fresh in the memory – the trip to Kent to take-on Folkestone Invicta seemed a slightly daunting prospect. No surprise, then, that the Rocks put on a really solid, gritty display to come away with a clean sheet and a 1-0 win. (What was that about consistency?!)

Bognor started brightly and took the lead after just 7 minutes through Jasper Mather. Roared-on by a home crowd of 645 (including a sizeable Rocks contingent, as always) Invicta fought-back strongly and it took all Bognor’s grit, determination and skill to hang-on to their slender lead for the remainder of the 90+ minutes. They weren’t helped, either, by losing two members of the starting eleven to injury during the game. Lucas Pattenden was replaced by Isaac Olaniyan in the 28th minute and Joe Rabbetts was forced-off in the 69th minute, to be replaced by Reuben Livesey-Austin. However, these changes in shape and personnel did little to disrupt an outstanding Bognor team performance as they held-on to secure all three points.

After the game, Bognor boss Robbie Blake declared himself “immensely satisfied” with his team’s performance, describing the win – and clean sheet - as the pinnacle of their Isthmian Premier Division campaign to date.

Blake boosts attacking options.

Back at the MKM Arena, the Rocks suffered a pre-match setback against Margate when an unfortunate injury to Jasper Mather in the warm-up saw him replaced by Isaac Olaniyan.

Undeterred, the home side raced into an early lead. With just three minutes gone, Calvin Davies set-up Lucas Pattenden, whose powerful shot flew past ‘Gate keeper Harry Seadon and into the net via the underside of the crossbar.

Margate immediately went in search of an equaliser and Rocks ‘keeper Ryan Hall made a brave block to deny Steve Cawley after a lofted pass over the defence. Cawley was not to be denied, however, and in the 13th minute, he latched-on to another high ball into the box and skilfully diverted it into the net. Though both sides created further chances, the first half ended 1-1.

The second half was again closely - and sometimes fiercely – contested. A disputed throw-in close to the dugouts led to Margate manager Reece Prestedge being shown a yellow card by the referee. And in the 69th minute, it was the Bognor bench who had reason to be unhappy with the officials. Craig Robson appeared to reach (and play) a loose ball in his own box, just ahead of the on-rushing Cawley but the striker went to ground and the referee pointed to the spot – to the disbelief of the Bognor players and spectators alike. Cawley took the penalty himself and beat Hall to put the ‘Gate 2-1 up. As the clock ran down it looked as if that would be the final score but in the 88th minute, Tommy-Lee Higgs made a jinking run into the Margate box and was hauled-down. Up stepped Dan Gifford to fire home the resultant penalty-kick to put the Rocks level at 2-2. To their credit, both sides continued to press for a winner in the remaining eight minutes (including time added) but it finished 2-2.


Rocks start December with a trip to old rivals Dulwich Hamlet – and they will have ex-Rock Alfie Bridgman back in the squad. A youth international with Malta, nineteen-year-old Alfie is a former Portsmouth player who had two loan spells at Nyewood Lane whilst with the Fratton Park outfit. After being released by Portsmouth, Alfie joined National League South side Eastbourne Borough but has now rejoined the Rocks on a permanent basis.

Image from Photo by Trevor Staff & Lyn Phillips

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