First Team
Friendly Sat 29 July MKM Arena
Bognor Regis Town
  • Croix (33')
  • Mather (43', 70')
  • Higgs (45')
4
Chichester City
  • Haitham (76')
1
4-1

The hosts scored three goals before the break and added a fourth in the second half. Chi got a goal late on, thanks to Kaleem Haitham.

The first chance of the game fell for the home side as Jasper Mather got a shot away, but Isaac Bello did well to force him wide and the shot was off target.

Steve Hutchings did well to hold the ball up and lay it off to Conrad Honore. However, his pass for Ethan Prichard was too long.

Ben Pashley spotted Kyle O’Brien making a good run down the left and picked him out with a brilliant cross field pass, but he couldn’t find room for the cross.

Tommy Lee Higgs got a shot away on the edge of the area after the Chichester defence failed to close him down and fortunately for Chi, a deflection took it wide of Kieran Magee’s goal.

On 15 minutes, Haitham was able to win the ball back high up the pitch. He had two shots blocked and the ball fell to Joe Moore, who saw his shot deflected wide.

A dangerous cross into the Chi box could have caused problems, but Pashley was aware and cleared it away.

Magee was required to make a good stop on 31 minutes as he dived to his left to deny Ben Anderson.

Two minutes later, Bognor Regis took the lead. Lucas Pattenden picked out Sam De St Croix in the box and he found the far bottom corner.

Bognor’s Higgs who was left free in the Chichester area and his header was straight at Magee.

The Rocks doubled their lead on 43 minutes as Mather fired the ball into the net.

Then in additional time in the first half, Bognor Regis scored their third. Higgs was first to the ball after former Chichester player Eric-Georges Dellaud’s shot was blocked and he found the back of the net.

Chi looked to get an early goal at the start of the second half and Prichard went close. A long pass over the top from Bello was met by Prichard and he beat the ‘keeper to the ball, but his shot was cleared off the line by the defender.

Curtis Da Costa got an important touch on the ball from a cross to take it away from the onrushing attacker.

A Bognor Regis trialist found himself free in the box and dragged his shot wide of the target on 55 minutes.

Moments later, Josh Clack made a good run down the right and cut the ball back for Haitham who saw his effort blocked.

Magee was needed to make a good save again when a corner was met well by the Rocks’ attacker.

Bognor then scored their fourth goal on 70 minutes when the ball was played across the box to Mather who tapped it in.

Chichester got a goal back seven minutes later when a mix up between Bognor goalkeeper Ryan Hall and defender Danny Howick allowed Haitham to put the ball into an empty net.

The final chance fell for Bognor’s Mather when he forced Magee into a save low to his left.

Next up for Chichester City is a trip to Southall in the Extra Preliminary Round of the Emirates FA Cup on Saturday 5th August.