Prior goal extends Rocks’ unbeaten run

Bognor were forced to settle for a share of the spoils as they were held to a 1-1 draw away to Tonbridge.
Ollie Pearce and Jason Prior combined for the Rocks' goal at Tonbridge   Picture by Tim HaleOllie Pearce and Jason Prior combined for the Rocks' goal at Tonbridge   Picture by Tim Hale
Ollie Pearce and Jason Prior combined for the Rocks' goal at Tonbridge Picture by Tim Hale

The Rocks – without injured trio Doug Tuck, Stuart Green and Alex parsons but with new dual-registration signing Harry Wedlake on the bench – found themsleves under pressure from the kick-off.

A long ball was lofted over the Rocks defence and Dan Sackman, facing his own goal, looked to clear but accidentally looped the ball over keeper Chris Winterton and clipped the outside of the post.

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Winterton then had to be on hand to keep out Tom Parsons’ effort as Tonbridge pushed for an opener.

Marvin Williams had the best chance for the hosts, getting on the end of a Simon Cox cross, but his effort was straight down the throat of Winterton.

The Rocks, who were struggling to control the ball on a very difficult pitch, finally cut through the Tonbridge defence when Ollie Pearce set Jason Prior through, but Tom Hadler pulled off a fine save to keep the game level.

In the lead-up to Bognor’s effort, a clash of heads between Callum Overton and Laurence Ball saw the Tonbridge player left on the floor unconscious.

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Extensive medical attention was required, bringing a stop in play for ten minutes before Ball was stretchered off.

It was the Rocks who broke the deadlock early in the second half when Pearce’s floated corner found Prior, who lost his marker to power a header past Hadler.

Just after the hour mark, though, the visitors conceded a penalty as Pinnock was pulled back, but appeared to go down very easily.

Pinnock duly stepped up and drove the ball low sending Winterton the wrong way.

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Bognor pushed to get a second with Omarr Lawson going closest.

But it was the hosts who continued to put pressure on Winterton’s goal – with the Rocks keeper having to make great late saves from Pinnock and Williams.

ROCKS: Winterton, Whyte, Crane, Oatway, Sackman, Robson, Lawson (Wedlake), Thomson, Prior, Pearce (Dodd), Overton (Cody). Unused sub: Parsons.

The Rocks are back in action next week, with Grays the visitors to Nyewood Lane.

LIAM GOODLEY

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