Report by Rod Ellis
Bognor Regis Town 0 Leatherhead 2
Tanners maintained their one hundred per cent start to the new league season with a hard fought 2-0 win against Bognor Regis Town at Chichester on Saturday.
Leatherhead edged a scrappy first half with Nathan Hogan opening the scoring on 23 minutes. The visitors never looked like conceding in the second period and secured the points with Ty Butler’s close range finish in the second minute of added time.
In the opening exchanges Leatherhead’s best chances came from a series of set pieces through corners, free kicks and throw ins. A Hogan free kick was headed wide by Jacob Breckon and skipper Kane Fitzgerald fired wide after the Rocks defence failed to effectively clear a corner.
Tanners took the lead midway through the opening half. The Rocks defence failed to deal with Ross Stepney’s long throw in and Hogan latched onto the loose ball to fire home from close range. Bognor missed a chance to level when new signing Lee Seok-Jae picked out Nick Dembele with a probing delivery into the visitors’ box.
The Rocks striker forced a fine low save from Tanners keeper Sonny Wheeler. Seok-Jae tested Wheeler with another low shot during a brief spell of play where Bognor looked as though they might find a way to break down the Tanners defence.
On the half hour mark Tanners suffered a setback when Fitzgerald limped off injured after a heavy challenge and was replaced by George Hedley.
Bognor continued to press forward and went close to levelling on 34 minutes. But Dan Gifford’s sweeping cross into the box just outpaced an advancing Dembele.
Tanners missed a chance to double their lead three minutes later when Lucas Franzen- Jones failed to connect with a well-directed cross from Kareem Akinnibi.
Despite several Tanners players making a stab at the loose ball, goalkeeper Slav Huk eventually managed to grab hold of it to stem the attack.
Just before half-time Bognor had a strong shout for a penalty when the ball struck the arm of Leatherhead’s Louie Paget just inside the area. Either the referee didn’t see it or else he considered the close range contact unavoidable, but nothing was given.
Tanners solidly defended their slender lead in the second half while continuing to drive forward in search of a second goal. Anas Igozouln replaced an injured Alfie Huckle on 56 minutes and made a strong impact down the right, pumping a series of crosses into the box and firing a couple of wide angled shots just beyond the far post.
On 75 minutes Akinnibi tested Huk with a forceful shot on the turn before the ball was eventually scrambled away for a Leatherhead corner.
Rocks threw caution to the wind in their efforts to break through the Tanners defenceand find an equaliser. But that left them increasingly exposed to any counter-attack from the visitors.
In the closing minutes Hogan tested Huk with a couple of fierce drives. With two minutes of added time played, Leatherhead scored their all-important second goal. Igozouln broke clear of his marker and delivered a sweeping cross into the box for Ty Butler to stroke past Huk from close range.
Deep in added time Butler should have scored his second and Leatherhead’s third after receiving a well-aimed cross from Hogan. But Huk judged the ball to perfection to make a fine save.
Tanners did well to adapt to the increasingly difficult weather conditions of driving wind and rain on the 3G pitch at Oaklands Park, the only downside of their win being the injuries sustained by Fitzgerald and Huckle.
Leatherhead now have a full week to prepare for their next match when they host Raynes Park Vale at Fetcham Grove in an FA Trophy tie. Saturday’s kick-off is at 3.00pm.
Bognor Regis Town: Slav Huk, Ryan Thomas, Elliot Chaffey (Toby Kingswell 64),
Ethan Robb, Chad Field, Preston Woolston, Lee Seok-Jae, Billy Allcock (George
Britton 86), Dan Gifford (Simba Mlambo 68), Nick Dembele (Lennie Smith 73)
Leatherhead: Sonny Wheeler, Alfie Huckle (Anas Igozouln 56), Niran Butler, Lukas
Franzen-Jones, Kane Fitzgerald (George Hedley 32), Kelvin Massango, Ross
Stepney, Louie Paget, Kareem Akinnibi (Cameron Black 83), Jacob Breckon (Ty
Butler 75)
