ROCKS REVIEW: Five-star show at Godalming secures FA Trophy progress

Michael Birmingham’s return to midfield helped inspire the team to a 5-2 win which earns another £3,000 in prize money and secures a home clash with Conference South side Hampton & Richmond in the next round.

Jason Prior’s second-half double made the tie safe after Godalming reduced a 3-0 interval deficit to 3-2.

The Rocks opted to play with a three-man midfield as Birmingham returned alongside James Fraser and Kane Wills and it was a masterstroke as they controlled the game for long periods.

A confident start led to the opener on ten minutes as Luke Nightingale struck a shot from 12 yards after Prior’s cross was fumbled by the Godalming keeper.

After that the Rocks were in full control, but for a long time they ran the game without threatening a second.

But they finally doubled their lead in the 35th minute when Birmingham tucked away a penalty after Stuart Axten’s header was handled on the line.

It followed a spell in which Godalming resorted to tough-tackling tactics that saw three of their players booked in four minutes.

And two minutes after goal two came goal three – and what a magnificent goal it was.

Ben Johnson picked up the ball wide on the left, cut inside and unleashed an unstoppable shot into the top corner which even the 6ft 6in tall keeper could do nothing about.

It looked like game over at the break with a repeat of the interval scoreline from the sides’ recent league game on the same ground, but Godalming were not finished.

Richard Shittu forced a super save from Craig Stoner and it was no real surprise when Gavin Smith headed in a high free-kick to make it 3-1.

Prior’s shot from an acute angle shaved the wrong side of the post before Shittu headed in a cross on the hour with the Bognor defence statuesque.

The Rocks fans who’d made the trip to windy Surrey were worried, but not for long.

Three minutes later Prior’s tremendous leaping header from Fraser’s free-kick gave them daylight again.

And the top scorer had time to go close again before adding his second and Bognor’s fifth in the 67th minute, bundling the ball in from two yards after Nightingale set him up.

Shittu ought to have made it 5-3 when he beat Stoner but lobbed a shot just over with the goal gaping.

The Rocks were content to play for time, perhaps saving themselves for Saturday when another away trip looms, this time to Corinthian Casuals in the league.

Hampton visit Nyewood Lane on Saturday, November 20, for the third qualifying round tie.

ROCKS: Stoner, Crane (Marzetti 46), Whitehead, Fraser (Royce 70), Axten, Bond, Wills, Birmingham, Prior (Maynard 76), Nightingale, Johnson. Subs not used: Turner, Rutherford.

by Simon Cook and Steve Bone