Pre-season Friendly
Nyewood Lane, Bognor Regis
Admission: £6.00
Programme: £2.00
Attendance: 350 (estimate)
With my partner having to work today, I took the opportunity to take in what should be my last pre-season friendly game of the year, with my first visit to Nyewood Lane in over ten years.
Nyewood Lane is about a 15 minute walk westwards from Bognor Regis train station, and a colour arch greets visitors at the entrance of a lane from the passing road to the turnstile block, which is situated in one corner of the ground. Just inside, programmes can be bought from a dedicated kiosk, whilst to the right of the turnstiles is a tea bar and a club shop. There are also some picnic tables, beyond which there is the large brick clubhouse located behind the end, and which is modern and spacious inside. Since my last visit, the previously uncovered terrace now has a tall roof on it, erected last year, although with no back or sides to it, may offer limited cover in driving rain! But it certainly looks smart and sturdy, and this means that the ground has extensive cover on all four sides. From the entrance along the length, a small section of covered terracing remains in place, however the previous 75 year old stand straddling the half way line was demolished last year, making way for a modern metallic all-seater stand, also installed last year, offering elevated and unobstructed views, in return for an additional £1 charge. The remaining length and end remains unchanged, with cover over three steps available throughout, with the back panels painted in green and white stripes. An old fashioned electronic scoreboard remains in the corner diagonally opposite the entrance, although this was not used during the game itself. The 24 page programme covered all four of the club's home friendlies and was a decent enough read and the effort to produce a paper programme for friendlies is very much appreciated.
Bognor Regis Town have been sitting comfortably in mid table of the Isthmian League Premier Division in each of the three seasons since their relegation from the National League South, including in the last two abandoned seasons. The Dorking Wanderers meteoric success story shows little sign of halting as they prepare to embark on their third season of National League South football, and they were five points clear at the top when last season was abandoned, much to the vociferous disapproval of the club.
On an overcast afternoon, with the occasional light rain shower passing through, this was a very even game for long periods, but in the end, that extra bit of quality in the Dorking squad won them the game. They opened the scoring on 16 minutes when Dorking intercepted the ball in midfield, and after the ball was worked to the right wing, Jason Prior, one of several former Bognor players playing for Dorking today, crossed low across goal for Wes Fogden to tap the ball home from close range. Bognor then created a couple of very decent chances, before the equalised on 37 minutes with a lovely goal by Nathan Odokonyero, following a lovely turn to creat some space before striding forward and lashing a shot from outside the area beyond thekeeper's dive and into the bottom right corner.
Plenty of substitutions were made by both sides at half time, and six minutes into the second half, Dorking went back in front, when the ball was crossed in from the right and Fogden headed the ball beyond the keepers dive inside the right hand post. Bognor thought they had equalised for a second time on 68 minutes when Jason Parish headed home, but the goal was ruled out for offside. They came close again two minutes later when Kayne Diedrich-Roberts sent a free kick just over the bar, but on 74 minutes, the visitors scored their third when the ball was crossed from the right and Alfie Rutherford headed home at the far post. Bognor still managed to push forward and create a couple of decent chances, but the scoreline remained 1-3 at the final whistle. Bognor could draw plenty of positives from their performance.
Video highlights of the match can be viewed by clicking here
Line-ups:
Bognor Regis: Tangara, Davies, Crane, Dandy,
Cook, Robson (c), Brown, Robb. Odokenyoko, Bell, Mongoy
Subs: Leigh (50'), Madhani, Parish (50'), Mendoza (50'), Diedrich-Roberts (50') McCallum (50'), Field (64'), Farr (78')
Dorking Wanderers: Worgan (Huk 46'); Wills, Harris (El-Abd 75'), Fuller (c) (Black 80'); Briggs (Wheeler 46'), Moore (Gallagher 46'), Josh Taylor (Hester-Cook 56'), Fogden (McShane 75') , McManus (Briggs 56'); McShane (Rutherford 46'), Prior (Kealy 66')
Referee: Daniel Austin
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