Monday night was back to football for me for the first time since the last week of May, yes it really was only six and a half weeks without a live game to watch, locally it was a second run out for Littlehampton Town and a first for Bognor Regis Town.
Contrasting seasons for both last year, Littlehampton a treble, promotion, and a Wembley appearance, for Bognor the season petered out very quickly and mid table was the finishing position. I watched the corresponding fixture this time last year which resulted in a 2-2 draw after Bognor had taken a two goal lead.
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Both sides had made a few signings in the past few weeks but a fair few trialists were appearing in the Bognor camp while Littlehampton were missing around half a dozen from last season’s campaign including striker Joe Benn who picked up a knock at the weekend.
On a blisteringly hot evening it was Bognor who looked the sharpish and with Littlehampton missing so many from their cohesive pattern and play who were vital to their success last year it was the visitors who were slick in possession and giving the home side a lot to think about and the early chances were all falling for Bognor.
It wasn’t a surprise to see them take the lead on 20 minutes, some nice wing play down the Bognor right saw Brad Lethbridge heading home a cross past Steve Phillips in the Littlehampton goal.
The home side were struggling to retain possession when with the ball and their division higher opponents were making them work all over the pitch, but Littlehampton should have gone into the break on level terms, Jamie Carrol worked his way clean through but shot straight at Taylor Seymour to give the Rocks a half time lead and lots for George Gaskin and his team to think about.
A raft of changes from Bognor saw an almost different starting eleven to the second half as per last year whilst Littlehampton also opted to change a few around as the heat showed no sign of cooling down.
The Rocks extended their lead ten minutes into the half as James Crane was in the right place six yards out to head past Phillips from Tom Holland’s cross to leave the home side really chasing the game but with plenty of time on their side.
However, just ten minutes later the game took an awful turn as Bognor trialist Jonathan Sanchez collapsed in the box with no one around him, seemingly a ball to the face affecting the defender but out cold for a good 5-10 minutes.
The referee quite rightly abandoned the game immediately and of course not the end either side wanted, quite pleased to say the player was able to get up and walk off the pitch after most spectators had left The Sportsfield for the night.
A very impressive 65 minutes from Bognor, I had read Robbie Blake and Jamie Howell had worked their players hard during pre-season training so far and that looked to pay off in this first run out, if they can keep up those levels for nine months they will be in the promotion mix no doubt.
It was hard to judge Littlehampton with so many missing for this one, last year I wrote not many sides will beat them and in fact very few did across the whole season. They will give many teams a game this season and I’m sure Mitch and George will ensure they are competitive and are hard to beat as they strive to establish themselves in the Isthmian League.
Great to see an attendance of 519 inside The Sportsfield, the usual good noise from the home fans and for me great to see so many familiar faces once again, that’s what pre-season is all about for me………………….
