City make it seven games unbeaten
Football Get the new Observer app by Ian Worden & Liam Goodley
Goals from Emmett Dunn, Jimmy Wild and Joe Clarke extended Chichester’s unbeaten run to seven games in a row and maintained their play-off place.
It was Wild’s seventh strike in six games. Miles Rutherford and co brought in Totton’s Giulio Girelli between the sticks as a replacement for Kieran Magee who sustained a concussion in the 3-0 win away at Merstham mid-week, Wild pulled an effort wide in the first move of the match after barely 60 seconds.
Noah Hoffman spurned a decent chance on 14 for the visitors before Joe Moore was bundled over and Josh Clack picked up a yellow card.
Dunn opened the scoring two minutes later from close range after good work from Clarke.
The home side spurned another chance on 38 after a lovely touch from Clack before Wild bagged his third goal of the week and doubled the lead.
Clarke made it 3-0 on 52 following a slick move involving Clack and Jammeh against his former team.
So, Chichester remain in the play-off spots.
They are away at Horndean next Saturday (see back page), kick-off 3pm.
Chichester: Girelli, Bello, Hutchings, Moore, Da Costa, Cody, Clack, Clarke, Wild, Jammeh, Bello. Subs: O’brien, Munt, Prichard, Rowlatt, Haitham.
– IAN WORDEN
Rocks 1, Hornchurch 2 Isthmian premier
It was a classic case of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory at Nyewood as Bognor Regis lost 2-1 to Isthmian premier leaders Hornchurch – having led 1-0 after 90 minutes.
Alfie Bridgman's eighth minute opening goal was cancelled out by Liam Nash's goal five minutes into second half stoppage time – before Lewis Manor's diverted effort sealed the win in a scrappy second goal for the visitors.
Craig Robson was sent off in stoppage time, which helped turn the game into the Urchins’ favour.
It was Bognor’s first home league defeat of the season.
Bridgman gave Rocks the lead on eight minutes. After a short run from the right he unleashed an unstoppable strike curling into the net from an angle.
At the end of 90, eight minutes were added on as Robson was shown a straight red card. He was clumsy in the challenge on a through ball on Akinwande where both players appeared to miss the ball and clashed. Nash smashed the free-kick over the wall but wide of the goal, giving Bognor hope of holding on to the lead.
Hall went into the book for time wasting for the resulting on the goal kick just to add to the frustration.
Unfortunately, Rocks let go of the lead and let in two late goals deep into stoppage time – first Nash knocked it low into the net to level the score.
But it wasn't over as substitute Manor found the net after a scrappy cross that was deflected into his path and he diverted it in the eighth allotted minute of stoppage time.
Bognor travel to Wingate & Finchley on Saturday.
– CARL ELDRIDGE
St Francis Rangers 1, Bosham FC 2
SCFL Division 2
A key, second half, goal from Ash Harris enabled Bosham to record a first ever win for the Reds at the home of the Rangers and keep alive their title hopes as the race to the gold enters its final stages.
Storrington, for their part, held on for a narrow win against Hailsham Town to stay top, by a point, for now, but more twists and turns may be forthcoming in the remaining weeks of the season.
Bosham started strongly and pressed to find an early goal to settle any nerves and after only four minutes Ilya Donets duly obliged.
Receiving the ball on the left-hand side, proceeded to turn onto his right boot and swing in a cross into the danger area.
The ball caught the breeze and flew through the gloves of stunned keeper, Michale Platt, and into the back of the net.
Bosham continued to push forward and dominated possession and territory. Chances came for the likes of Alex Barnes and Toby Hewett but the lack of a finish would certainly have had the Reds manager, Tony Hancock, stewing a little as the halftime interval drew close.
Kamma Stevens then brought out a terrific save from Derek Harding which needed the Bosham keeper at his best to keep the effort out.
Into the second half and
Bosham started with renewed purpose with full intent to get a cushion in the game in their quest for the points and a clean sheet.
The game did become scrappy at times but, close to the final quarter a moment of quality from the Robins finally brought about the second goal they craved.
Swift passing set Luke Sweeney free down the left and his perfect cross to the back stick was volleyed in by Harris to give the Reds daylight at just the right time.
However, it wasn’t all over just yet as the black and whites almost instantly got on the scoresheet from the resumption when sub, Alfie Barnes, finished off a swift counter to smash the ball home to halve the deficit. Bosham were somewhat nervy after that but could not find another goal to set the seal for a key victory.
In the end it was a proverbial, ugly, win for the Reds which, temporarily, put them top until the result from Storrington came through later in the evening.
Next week, Bosham make they longest trip of the season to the Limekiln, the home of Jarvis Brook and with all the remaining games being like cup finals, only a win will do if hopes for the title can continue onward.