Blues play-off hopes dashed on the rocks.

It seems the Blues do not like to be beside the seaside judging by their away form this season & especially at seaside towns. The long trip down to Bognor on a misty, windy & drizzly day was filled with anticipation and hopeful of securing all three points. Jim Cooper welcomed back into the starting eleven Jake Reid up front & Joe Tupper in goal. They were without Rob Bartley and Stuart Searle but Jim was still confident before the game.

Within the opening fifteen minutes the Blues should have been two up from two great chances that fell to Jake Reid & Matt Pattison. After 4 minutes a clever through ball over the home back four put Jake Reid clear in the penalty area and some twelve yards out, but somehow he only managed a half hit shot that looped up & straight into the keepers arms.

In the 14th minute a through ball sent Charlie Collins racing clear towards the penalty area with the home back four stranded near the half way line. The keeper raced out of his area and Charlie managed to get a slight touch to deflect the ball past the keepers lunging foot, but Charlie was clipped causing him to lose his footing. Charlie somehow managed to stay on his feet but the ball had now run further towards the far edge of the box and by the time he got it under control, the keeper & back four had regrouped. The resulting shot was blocked by a covering defender but inexplicably no action from the match referee Mr Webb. No foul, no card and not even a word but he explained after that he didn’t think Charlie was touched?

A moment later Nikki Ahamed had a right foot shot that the keeper did well to parry away low to his left but the ball fell kindly to Matt Pattison just a couple of yards out & the goal beckoning. Matt took the power option and blasted a right foot shot wide of the post & gaping net.
Totally against the run of play Bognor took the lead after a good run down the right & a cross towards the near post that Steve Sutherland could only deflect towards goal. Joe Tupper clawed the ball out and away to the far post but Terry Dodd somehow managed to control the ball & then curl it back beyond Tupper and inside the post.

The Blues continued to dominate possession but failed to deliver a final ball or draw a save from Chris Winterton in goal. In the 41st minute it was the match referee, Mr Webb who was centre of attention again. Another through ball split the Bognor defence but this time Jake Reid raced through onto the ball and once again Winterton raced off his line. The two came together and a challenge that left Jake Reid crumpled on the floor and looking very much like a foul again. Once again, no decision, no card and apparently Mr Webb thought the keeper got the ball…although that didn’t explain the stud mark six inches long from his ankle up to his shin.

Half Time Bognor Regis Town 0 Met Police 0

Sadly, things did not improve for the Blues in the second half and Bognor nearly doubled their lead in the 56th minute when a through ball caught the Blues back four napping. Steve Sutherland raced across the ground to chase back & put in a goal saving sliding tackle in the penalty area that had to be timed to perfection as the Bognor forward poised to shoot.

The respite was only short lived as the Blues went further behind in the 63rd minute somehow from one of their own corners of which there were quite a few! The ball was cleared out by Bognor and towards the half way line but Nikki Ahamed misjudged the bouncing ball and the Bognor players were clear towards the Blues goal. The Blues defence raced back but a quick cross to the far post was missed by Matt Pattison who had raced back to defend and Jason prior was on hand to steer the ball home.

This was still against the run of play as the Blues dominated possession but were still failing to deliver a telling cross or shot. Jim sent on Dean Bown for Matt Pattison and the young striker was given a great chance by a delightful pass from Nikki Ahamed but somehow the ball ran away from him & wide of the goal.

The game largely drifted towards the final whistle but there was still time for Mr Webb to endear himself further in Jim’s opinions and cement his place off Coops Christmas card list! Jake Reid picked up the ball as it was crossed through the six yard box to the far post. Jake had his back to goal but the defender managed to kick him in trying to prevent him turning and fouled him. Mr Webb once again waved play on and after the game explained to Jim that he believed the defender `didn’t mean` to kick him. We must remember that one next time we foul anyone in the box….

The final whistle went and a very long dismal journey home….listening to Michelle & Debbie talking about shopping, waxing & hairdressers…….could this day get any worse!

Team 1. Joe Tupper, 2. Will Salmon, 3.Jay Lovett, 4. Billy Crook, 5. Steve Sutherland, 6. Elliot Taylor, 7. Charlie Collins, 8. Jake Reid, 9. Joe Turner, 10. Nikki Ahamed, 11. Matt Pattison,
Subs: 12. Ricardo Joseph, 14. Ronayne Marsh-Brown (replaced 4 – 78 mins), 15. James Daly, 16. Dean Bown (replaced 11 – 64 mins), 17. Scott Tarr

Man of the Match: Joe Turner