Bognor Regis Town 2-0 Kingstonian
Rock-Hard

A visit to the seaside and the pleasant surrounds of Nyewood Lane saw Kingstonian seeking three wins on the trot for the first time this season. Providing stern opposition would be form-side Bognor Regis, faring particularly well at home in their first season back in the Ryman Premier Division.

With the exception of the returning Scott Steele, the K's side was that which took to the field midweek at Ford United. A surprise, and pleasant, inclusion on the substitutes bench was Phil Wingfield - involved in a matchday squad for the first time since the opening day of the season.

Early action in Bognor territory saw the home side remain firm. Steele was dispossessed in the box with a well-timed timed challenge and John Price rose well to clear from the reaches of Stafford Browne following a Liam Collins cross.

Ten minutes into the game came a good chance at the other end when Rob Collins charged into the K's area only to see his effort smothered by the advancing Lance Key. Key was soon called into action again when charging out to clear from Matt Russell.

A Matt Elverson slip allowed Collins to pick up possession and take a strike on goal. Once more Lance Key was to deny him, getting down quickly to block the strike.

Key was not called into any further action as the game tightened, somewhat aided by the loose finishing of the hosts following telling crosses from Jamie Howell and the lively Collins. Kevin Murphy and Matt Russell respectively were guilty of sending their efforts past the upright.

Photo: kingstonian.net

The half ended almost as it started, with a couple of chances for K's. Liam Collins delivered a short ball into the area to Mark Beard, only for his snap-shot to blaze wide past the goal.

The last action of the opening period allowed another opportunity for a strike following a handball just outside the area by Howell. Steele's free kick was however comfortably taken by home goalkeeper Craig Stoner.

It was Bognor who came out firing after the break, taking the lead within four minutes of the restart. David Piper picked up a short corner from Guy Rutherford before crossing to Matt Russell. The striker's well-directed header nestled just inside the near post to open the scoring.

The lead seemed destined to last just a couple of minutes when Stafford Browne charged down a (backpass) clearance from Stoner, the ball spinning nicely in to a central position for the striker to latch on to. Despite goalkeeper and defender rushing across to recover, Browne was favourite to tuck the ball away before rushing a strike that flew wildly over the bar.

Having been untroubled for most of the game, Stoner looked ruffled, his next few kicks and a cross from Mark Beard causing him trouble.

Photo: kingstonian.net

It was on the hour mark that the K's defining moment was to come. Fed a through ball down the left channel by Anthony Savage, Stafford Browne broke clear and neatly rounded the advancing Stoner. Having cleared his path to goal, and at an angle not too tight, Browne once again lacked the final composure when blasting his shot against the stanchion.

Matt Russell sent an effort over at the other end before notching up his and Bognor's second goal of the game with thirteen minutes remaining. Some sharp build up play was converted with Russell's simple far post finish following a cross from substitute Lou Savage.

Late substitutes Phil Wingfield and David Ocquaye tried to create a breakthrough for K's, though the closest they were to go would be a couple of low Ocquaye strikes held by Stoner.

Kingstonian are by no means the only side this season to leave Bognor with no points. A solid first half performance was followed with a higher tempo in the second period, but as so often been the case this season, creating and converting chances seems to be K's achilles heel.