ROCKS REVIEW: Rocks 2 Hampton and Richmond 2

The Rocks' FA Trophy adventure goes on after they scored a late goal for the third Saturday running to hold Conference South side Hampton and Richmond to a draw.

James Fraser curled home a lovely shot to force a 2-2 draw and book a replay on Tuesday night.

The Rocks were unchanged from their visit to Dulwich Hamlet but the bench included Matt Wood and Guy Rutherford as Phil Turner and Jon Marzetti were out of action.

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The game started with a foul by Jason Prior on David Stevens on the halfway line, but the tall defender seemed to go down very easily. The driven free-kick was cleared.

The Rocks replied moments later when Prior worked well from the byline to peg the ball back for Michael Birmingham. The captain got to the edge of the area to smash a right-footed shot wide.

Fraser then fed Ben Johnson inside the heart of midfield and from over 30 yards he blasted over the bar.

On seven minutes Lloyd Boateng managed to win a Hampton corner on the right, which led to Bai Mass Lette Jallow crossing. The ball was missed by two players before falling to Stevens who hit a shot well over the bar.

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In a good spell for the visitors, Ian Hodges bounced the ball to Jallow inside the area but he scuffed his volley well wide.

Then Prior was pulled back by Boateng when turning inside on the right, but Johnson’s free-kick was flicked away to safety.

Right-back James Crane sped through on the right to play in a wonderful cross for Luke Nightingale. The striker slid in to divert the ball across the six-yard box but luckily for the visitors a defender was there to clear.

On 18 minutes Prior was shoved over in the air by Stevens, who received a stern talking-to by the referee for his actions.

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Good passing freed Crane on the right to cross. But Stevens was there to head clear.

Birmingham passed to Fraser who spun quickly in space to shoot. His effort from long range flew narrowly over the bar.

Bognor were really starting to play Hampton off the park and on 24 minutes Prior cut a neat ball to Dan Royce. The right winger drove in a dangerous low cross but the sliding Fraser couldn’t quite get to it.

After such good play from the Rocks, they were rewarded with a goal on 32 minutes. A cross from the left by Johnson was headed into the top corner of his own net by visiting striker Hodges.

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Hodges redeemed himself on 36 minutes when he capitalised on a poor defensive back-pass to roll the ball into the empty net beyond the stranded Craig Stoner.

Soon James Simmonds’ free-kick from deep was chipped high into the Bognor area looking for Orlando Jeffrey. However, Stoner managed to punch the ball clear.

Three minutes before half-time, David Tarpey’s low deflected shot from outside the area flew wide of the post.

HT 1-1

Although the second half started slowly, Bognor did have some early chances. First Johnson sprinted down the left to curl in a cross towards Prior but Stevens managed to boot clear.

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Then Royce did well down the right in a battle with Craig Tanner, but unfortunately, after trying to win a corner, a goal kick was awarded.

Hampton had an opportunity on 54 minutes. Tarpey drove in a cross from the left which flashed across the area but nobody could get on the end of it.

Good work from a cross at the back post by Johnson and Nightingale handed Prior a chance. His powerful shot whizzed just over the bar with the aid of the fingertip save from Talbot.

Tim Bond saved the Rocks when he pulled out a last-ditch block to deny Tarpey a shot at goal.

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But the visitors took the lead on 74 minutes. Dean Inman was free to make it 2-1 after Tanner had chipped the ball beyond Stoner. Bond’s efforts on the line couldn’t stop the midfielder from scoring.

In a very physical game, Birmingham received a knock and had to be replaced by Matt Wood after treatment by the physio.

Tanner threaded the ball into Inman on the run and he shot low towards the near post. Stoner was equal to it, diving to his right to divert the ball around the post.

Fraser was brought down just outside the area by Tanner, who received a warning by the referee. The free-kick came to nothing as the ball was cleared.

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On 88 minutes two penalty appeals came inside ten seconds when Matt Wood appeared to be brought down in the area. The referee ignored the claims, but the Hampton player who had tackled him then appeared to use his hands to gather the ball in his favour. The referee again refused to give the penalty.

As the pressure built, tempers flared as Prior got into a heated confrontation with Tanner and the referee gave the striker a yellow card.

And to add to the hgome team’s woes, Stuart Axten went down suffering from a bruised ankle. The physio came on for some lengthy treatment and it looks as though he will miss the next game.

Just as the Rocks’ Trophy dreams looked to be over, six minutes into stoppage time Rocks secured a replay.

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Fraser received the ball after a corner outside the area. He curled a shot effortlessly into the top right corner and beyond the outstretched Talbot.

It was the third week in a row the Rocks had scored in the dying minutes after their late winners at Corinthian Casuals and Dulwich Hamlet.

ROCKS: Stoner (5), Crane (9), Whitehead (8), Fraser (9), Axten (8) (Marshall 90), Bond (8), Royce (7) (Maynard 68), Birmingham © (9) (Wood 80), Prior (8), Nightingale (8), Johnson (9). Unused Subs: Rutherford, Lawrence.

Att: 376

Report by Liam Goodley

Join us on this website on Tuesday evening for up-to-the-minute updates and a full report from the replay at Hampton.

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