Rocks hit FIVE.. City win fourth in FIVE
Robbie Blake was ecstatic after seeing Bognor hammer Haringey Borough 5-2 in a pulsating Isthmian premier division encounter to give his side five wins on the bounce.
And the Rocks boss reckons the visitors could have scored more goals during a rampant second half display that blew away resistance from the home side.
Nathan Odokonyero, being watched by Aldershot at Coles Park, and Dan Gifford both bagged braces and Sam De St Croix grabbed a late goal as Bognor responded magnificently to going 1-0 down after just three minutes. Odokonyero's double takes his tally to 27 goals in all competitions this campaign.
The gaffer was delighted with just how powerfully his charges finished the game.
Blake told Rocks Radio: "We're obviously really happy with the way it went at Haringey and in fairness it was no more than we deserved.
"It has been the pattern of the last five games that we have finished games really strongly. We are in a good place and there is a good team spirit and as you would imagine, goals breed a winning spirit and we are really pleased with the outcome. At any level to score five goals away from home is great and to do it here is very pleasing as it’s a tough place to come.
"We were a little disappointed at our first half performance and we had a go at the boys at half time -- every time the ball went in our box we look like we were going to concede and we've got to get better because we have players in the final third that can hurt teams.
"The players are taking information on and delivering. Now we have to believe, keep pushing and take one game at a time. But we are fit and in a good place and when you have that you have a chance."
Calvin Davies replaced teen midfielder Joe Briffa, who has enjoyed a run of games in the team and has excelled in his role, at the interval and the extra energy helped spark the goal glut.
Blake added: "It was good to see Calvin back because he
has not had that much game time but he is so committed and he is part of it. I loved the way we went about the second half and we could have gone on and scored another three or four.
"Players are starting to believe in themselves and it's great to see.”
Chichester City
made it four wins from five when they beat VCD 2-0 at Oaklands Park
Two goals in the first 16 minutes of the second half – scored by Ethan Prichard and Steve Hutchings secured the points, which took City up to ninth in the Isthmian south east division.
Selsey 0
Dorking Wanderers B 2 SCFL Div 1
Moments of lost concentration at the beginning of each half cost Selsey the points. Those two moments made it an uphill battle and although the Blues battled and kept to their game plan, they couldn't get back into the game.
Boss Daren Pearce said: “First we conceded a own goal when a back pass was sent past our goalkeeper leaving him stranded, with the ball rolling into an empty net.
"After this we settled back into our rhythm and played good football and created a
few half chances in a pretty even first half.
"The second half started and within minutes a mistimed tackle on the Dorking forward resulted in the referee pointing to the spot, and with that converted we were now 2-0 down.
“The lads tried to find a way back into the game but with the visitors not willing to give up the lead easily and defending well we couldn't find a way back into it.
"Even when we did find a way past them the final pass or cross seemed to not quite be there.
"It was an afternoon of disappointment for.us where we got punished for two sloppy pieces of play. We need to
reduce these if we are to push on in the run-in.”
Saturday sees Selsey on the road to Seaford.
Bosham 3 Charlwood 0 SCFL Division 2
Bosham made it back-toback wins following an excellent result on the road last time out.
Following poor results on their travels at Worthing and Copthorne the win at Upper Beeding last week came as a welcome tonic with Ollie Hawkins grabbing a double and Joe Boschi nailing his first for the season.
Returning home to Walton Lane, Bosham were up for task in taking on Charlwood, who have slipped in recent weeks.
The game got off to the worst possible start for the visitors when a back pass was fed towards keeper Zach Rice, who proceeded to air kick the ball and watched helplessly as it nestled into the back of his own net.
Bosham pushed on and chances came for Kieran Hartley and Graeme Dowden but Rice atoned for his earlier mistake by making a couple of good saves.
Charlwood tried to get a foothold with Harrison Stewart and Teegan Jeffrey testing the Robins but James Wilson, in particular, was having a storming half, leaving keeper Derek Harding with little to do.
Just after the half-hour, a second came from Hartley. Dowden struck a free-kick at goal that drew a good save from Rice only for Hartley to react quickly to the loose ball and force it in.
In the second half Ilya Donets a real threat on the Bosham wing and Ed Kennet a constant menace up front.
Charlwood were undone late on by a sweet goal. Hartley went on a mazy run, easing past several challenges, before sliding the ball on to a plate for sub Will Lintott to race on to and convert.
Bosham are in Intermediate Cup last-16 action against Rotherfield this Saturday.