One point from two is poor Rocks return
The Rocks took only one point from two games over the New Year weekend – but will reflect that it should have been more.
They needed a late Isaac Olaniyan equaliser to rescue a point at home to Canvey Island on Saturday – then were guilty of wasting chances and possession as they lost 1-0 at Lewes on New Year’s Day.
On Saturday, in front of a crowd of 743, Bognor had to battle back for a point at the MKM Arena that meant they ended 2023 in 12th place in the Isthmian premier table – eight points off the play-off places and eight points off the relegation zone.
In an early Rocks attack, Lucas Pattenden burst through, beating the offside trap, but his low cross towards Alfie Bridgman was cut out.
On 23 minutes Dan Smith was set through the middle and teed up Tommy-lee Higgs, who hit it first time, but keeper Samuel Jackson saved.
Canvey put the ball into the net following a free-kick by Hubble but it was flagged offside.
In the first meaningful action of the second galf, Smith squared the ball inside to Higgs who hit a curling strike agonisingly wide.
Canvey took the lead on 57 minutes as a free-kick by Conor Hubble picked out Jamie Salmon and he chested it down before diverting it into the net.
Jasper Mather and Dan Gifford came on as the Rocks tried to hit back.
Calvin Davies curled a free-kick into the box but Smith, who was unmarked, glanced a header off target on 68 minutes. Gifford went down in the box and after the referee debated it with the linesman he bizarrely gave a drop-ball, uncontested, for Canvey to boot away on 79 minutes.
Bognor got their equaliser on 84 minutes.
Harvey Whyte sent the ball to the back post after meeting a left-sided cross and it was Olaniyan who rose to head it in.
A little over 48 hours later, the Rocks were back in action at the Dripping Pan – but a failure to turn possession and chances into goals cost them the chance of any return.
Bognor brought Gifford and Mather into the starting line-up and on ten minutes some neat work at the back by Spencer Spurway got Bognor on the attack.
He found Joe Rabbetts on the left and his cross found Dan Smith in the box unmarked – but he smashed it over when it seemed easier to score.
The Rocks continued to enjoy plenty of the play but too often the final ball was lacking, and when a player did get sight of goal, they could not make it count.
Lewes had their chances too but the game appeared to be heading for a stalemate – until the Rooks got the game’s only goal with 15 minutes left.
A free-kick on the right was swung on to the head of Jake Elliott, who nodded it down and into the net from close range. Bridgman and Olaniyan came on as the Rocks tried to salvage a point, as they had on Saturday, but Lewes held on.
The Rocks welcome Chatham on Saturday.