Rocks push Blues all the way on another night of optimism

Pre-season friendlies that pit a non-league team against a professional club can go one of two ways.

If the non-league club wins, it can be embarrassing for the pros – but if the pro team turns on the style, it’s the small club who can end up desperate for it to end.

This one fell somewhere between the two extremes.

A couple of Pompey’s past visits to Nyewood Lane have seen the Blues go through the gears and score five or six.

And when Eoin Teggart and Brett Pitman netted to put them 2-0 up at half-time, some wondered if they might go on to win handsomely again.

But to Bognor’s huge credit, they simply didn’t let their visitors do that.

The Rocks pulled a quick goal back through ex-pompey academy forward Dan Smith, then really made Pompey sweat.

Smith should have made it 2-2 with a one-on-one chance that was sharply denied by Alex Bass, one of numerous figures in the Pompey squad who’d spent time at Bognor in the past.

The second half very much belonged to Bognor, and by Stuart Green gave the Pompey defenders plenty to think about

the end it was Pompey who were hanging on and glad to get away with the win.

Of course, it’s always worth reminding yourself that the results of these games don’t mean much.

Nevertheless, this was an evening when Rocks coach Robbie Blake, in sole charge on this occasion with manager Jack Pearce absent, could be very pleased with the progress shown by the developing squad.

Blake reckons the club are 80 per cent of the way

to knowing who will be their first-choice XI when the league season starts on August 10.

With the likes of Keaton Wood, Ashton Leigh and James Crane looking solid at the back, Doug Tuck, Freddie Read and Harvey Whyte linking well in midfield, and Stu Green, Dan Smith and Jimmy Muitt in the frontline, the nucleus of a good side was there for all to see as Pompey were pushed back and made to work hard for their win.

There remain questions Dan Smith pounces to put the Rocks back in the game, making it 2-1

over who will be the Rocks’ goalkeeper, with no sign of Dan Lincoln returning but with Charlie Searle pushing his claims in the two friendlies played so far.

And injuries to defenders mean strengthening is needed at the back. Holding midfielder Tommy Leigh, brother of Ashton, impressed everyone with his display versus the Blues and may join.

The first half did feature a spell in which Pompey looked like they might run away with it, Pitman proving a class

above those around him and unlucky not to score more than one. By then they led through Taggart’s solo effort, and 2-0 at the break was probably a fair reflection.

But if Pompey thought they’d have it all their own way, that second-half Rocks show proved them wrong.