Abuse of refs is being tackled
Buoyant Bognor kept up their unbeaten home record in the Isthmian premier division by beating second-placed Chatham Town thanks to first half goals from Jasper Mather and Dan Smith.
Late drama saw Chris Dickson’s goal make for a nervy final few minutes but Bognor, solid decisively throughout, took a 2-1 victory and another important three points.
An early corner by Ben Anderson was driven into the area with Smith threatening at the back post but it just out of his reach.
For Chatham, Jack Evans was allowed in as Calvin Davies slipped but his longrange effort was wide.
Bognor took the lead on six minutes. Lucas Pattenden beat the offside trap from a long ball by keeper Ryan Hall. He cut the ball back inside for Mather and his first attempt was stopped by Benjamin Bridle-card but on the rebound he shot home off the underside of the bar.
During the incident, Alfie Bridgman collided with the post and hurt his arm. He continued but had to give into the injury a short while later.
Hall gathered a cross from Jamie Yila as Chatham looked dangerous. Simon Cooper picked out Ashley Nzala with a cross and when Nzala headed it goalwards Hall did brilliantly to tip the ball over.
Bognor extended their lead on 21 minutes. A break by Matt Burgess saw him find Pattenden on the right. He crossed it to the back post for Smith, who knocked it into the net off the keeper.
Joe Rabbetts headed a chance off the line as Chatham tried to find a way back. Harvey Whyte set Pattenden on his way again but he hit the side netting with his strike on 26 minutes.
Chatham always looked a threat and Spencer Spurway gave away a free-kick in a dangerous position on 41 minutes. Evans took it and curled it wide.
Smith went into the book for dissent on 42 minutes. Nzala had a chance saved by Hall in eight minutes of first half stoppage time. After the break Nzala had a chance at the back post but knocked it wide.
Chatham had the ball in the net on 47 minutes but Kareem Isiaka's finish was chalked off for a foul on Spurway.
Dickson’s long range effort swirled agonisingly wide on 49 minutes. A decent cross by Rabbetts was met in the air by Pattenden but he headed it wide. Nzala had another chance deflected over as Bognor were putting bodies on the line in defence. Nzala went into the book on 71 minutes.
Bognor had a great chance on the break as Spurway ran down the left after good work from Isaac Olaniyan. Spurway crossed to Pattenden, whose volley flew over the bar.
Dickson found the net with a left-footed volley on 85 minutes after a cross from the right saw him beat his man in the area to make it 2-1.
Eddie Allsopp might have levelled soon after but he belted the chance high over the bar. Wes Hallet, the Rocks kit man, was sent off as well as a Chatham Town coach on the touchline after an altercation over a new ball being kicked on to the field inside stoppage time.
Whyte also went into the book before Kieran Douglas replaced Olaniyan and made a crucial defensive header to ensure the lead was protected.
recovered from being 1-0 down at Sheppey to record a 3-1 win.
Isaac Bello’s double and a late Mo Jammeh goal earned the points that left City in seventh place, just three points behind the team they had just beaten and with games in hand.
Rottingdean 0 Bosham 5
SCFL Division 2
Bosham FC are still top of the table after taking a fine end to 2023 into 2024.
The Reds won the team of the month award for November and December, combined, which left manager Tony Hancock very proud but with his feet firmly on the ground.
On Saturday the Robins travelled along the coast to Rottingdean and a fullstrength team took to a pitch,which was damp and very sticky.
There was an early sighter for Ash Harris after only five minutes – a warning to the hosts for what might be to come.
It took Bosham until the 25th minute to break through. An interchange of passes between Joe Boschi and Ilya Donets saw the latter scamper free down the left and surge towards the box.
His low cross was met by Olliver Hawkins, who diverted it goalwards only for keeper Jordan White, to save – but Billy Roach tapped in the loose ball.
Rottingdean looked interesting on the counter with the likes of Jake Munday and John Criag asking questions – but Reds keeper Derek Harding had little to do.
Right on half-time Harry Spicer sumptuous pass over the top into Hawkins’ path and with White coming off his line, he easily fired past him.
It took only a couple of minutes after the break for the Robins to add to their lead as Hawkins powered into the box before cutting the ball back into the path of Harris, who fired home.
Before the hour David Castanheira and Toby Hewett came off the bench and soon Bosham were out of sight as Hawkins terrorised the defence and set up Harris to fire in from close range for his 11th of the campaign.
Rottingdean were undone again with Hewett surging forward and finding Hawkins in space. His low cross almost found Harris but Roach was on hand to lash the ball home.
Brighton Electric visit Bosham this week.
A bright new campaign is striving to end abuse towards referees in Sussex while influencing a new generation to pick up the cards and whistle.
Sussex FA will receive more than 200 fluorescent armbands courtesy of the Grassroots Fund, powered by Utilita Energy and Team Grassroots.
Officials under the age of 18 will be encouraged to wear the band, clearly indicating their age to players and those on the sidelines.
The aim is to eradicate abusive language towards referees, particularly those who are still children, and encourage more youngsters to become an official - especially given the current shortage across the UK.
The Referee Development Manager at Sussex County FA, Paul Jeffery, said: “It’s never acceptable for any referee to be abused.
"A great number of our current registered refereeing workforce in Sussex are under the age of 18, and we have to remember that, just like young players, they will make perceived mistakes, and are learning themselves.
“This is all part of their development and I would ask that all managers, coaches, players, parents and spectators respect this.
“I’d like to extend our thanks to the Grassroots Fund for facilitating these new armbands for our young referees, and I hope they have the positive impact we all hope for."
It is estimated the total number of refs in the country has declined from 33,000 to 23,000 in just five years – a fall of one third. Research by the University of Portsmouth has also found 93 per cent of refs in England have been abused.
More on this story at sussexworld.co.uk/sport