Bognor Regis Town vs Cray Wanderers – Isthmian Premier – Sat. 12th March, 3pm – Match Preview & Directions/Admission prices

Bognor Regis Town v Cray Wanderers – Isthmian Premier, Saturday 12th March, 3pm – Match Preview

Pics: Jon Hilliger/www.hilligerpix.com

Cray Wanderers look to get back to winning ways on Saturday as Grant Basey’s side head to Bognor Regis Town for the Wands only away game in March. Kick off at Nyewood Lane is 3pm.

Cray will be looking to rebound from Wednesday night’s 2-1 home defeat to Haringey Borough and after taking one point from the last two home games but have been fortunate that the bottom three sides have all lost their two recent matches. The Wands remain 19^th one point ahead of Brightlingsea Regent who occupy the rather mysterious 20^th place where the teams that finish in that position vie with other Step 3 teams on a points per game basis.

The Wands got off to an exceptional start on Wednesday with Jamie Yila’s 11^th goal of the season and came close to scoring again through Sam Wood, Narcis-Florin Filip and Cameron Brodie before Haringey scored two well crafted goals to lead at halftime and despite some late pressure held on to  take the three points back to North London.

There have been some good performances over the last couple of games with Freddy Barton, Joe Wright, Kasim Aidoo and Jacob Munting all playing well and real glimpses of a couple of future stars in Narcis-Florin Filip, Nazir Bakrin and Soul Kadar.  For the trip to Bognor the injury doubts over the last three games have been Ethan Kaiser and Kyel Reid while Joe Wright’s loan spell from Millwall gives time for Bailey Vose to recover from the injury he picked up at Wingate & Finchley last month.

It has been a solid rather than spectacular campaign for Bognor Regis Town who sit 11^th in the Isthmian Premier table after 31 games. Although perhaps too far behind for a playoff challenge can possibly be looking at a top half of the table finish.  On Tuesday night the Rocks picked up a point from a goalless draw at Corinthian Casuals which followed a 0-2 home defeat to Bowers & Pitsea on Saturday.

 

The two sides met as recently as 12^th January at Hayes Lane and Bognor edges a tight match 1-0 with a second half goal from Dan Gifford.  Cray will be hoping for a better outcome  than their last visit to Bognor Regis on 14^th December 2019 where Bognor Regis won 7-2 with Dan Smith (2), Doug Tuck (2), Ashton Leigh, Tommy Leigh and an own goal scoring for the home side with Joe Taylor scoring twice for Cray

Bognor Regis had a pretty average home record until January but won three home matches in a row to keep them high up the table.  At home Bognor Regis have beaten Carshalton Athletic (1-0), Leatherhead (3-2), Potters Bar Town (2-0), Corinthian Casuals (3-2) and Brightlingsea Regent (2-1) and drawn with Bishop’s Stortford (0-0), Wingate & Finchley (2-2), Kingstonian (1-1) Enfield Town (2-2) and Horsham (2-2). Bognor were beaten at home by Haringey Borough (1-2), Folkestone Invicta (4-2), Hornchurch (1-2), Worthing (1-3) and Bowers & Pitsea (0-2).  Away from home Bognor won at Worthing (2-0), Brightlingsea Regent (0-5), Cheshunt (1-0), Margate (2-1) and Cray Wanderers (1-0). They drew at East Thurrock United, Horsham, Bowers & Pitsea, Haringey Borough, Leatherhead and Corinthian Casuals.  Nathan Odonkonyero is the leading scorer with 16 goals.

With eight more games to go Cray still have a bit of work to do to confirm safety but there is still plenty of optimism this can be achieved and the team can finish the season strongly.

DIRECTIONS TO BOGNOR REGIS TOWN FC

Bognor Regis Town FC

ADDRESS – Bognor Regis Town FC,
Nyewood Lane,
Bognor Regis,
PO21 2TY

Admission Prices

Adults, £12
Senior citizen (over 65) £10
U18s (and students with ID) £5

Pay on gate or online at https://therocks.ktckts.com/brand/match-tickets

Driving:

Follow the A27 around Chichester towards Brighton and Worthing. On reaching the Bognor Road Roundabout take the third exit onto the A259 towards Bognor Regis. Go straight across the next roundabout and at the second roundabout that you reach (signposted Littlehampton A259) take the third exit onto the B2299 towards Bersted. At the next double mini roundabout with the Royal Oak on the left go straight on towards Bognor Regis. After a mile turn right (where there is a Thai Restaurant and a Protek Shop on your left) onto Hawthorn Road towards Aldwick. You will pass the Wheatsheaf pub on your left and then just before the cricket pitch, turn left into Nyewood Lane. The main entrance to the ground is down on the right.

There is limited parking within the ground for players, officials and disabled visitors.

There is ample on-street parking in Nyewood Lane and surrounding roads. There is also free parking available within the Bognor Sports Club, via its entrance in Hawthorn Road. There is a turnstile giving access into the ground from this car park and you will also find a very attractive bar within the Sports Club you can use.

Train: Travel: Important announcement

A note for train travellers that there are no direct train services to Bognor Regis from London Victoria on 12^th March. You will need a change of train at Arundel where you need a rail replacement bus to take you to Barnham. From there a short train ride will take you to Bognor Regis.  If you wish to take this option trains leave Victoria at 35 mins past  the hour and expect to arrive at Arundel in 1 hr 25 mins.  This is replicated  on the way back at 55 mins past the hour. There is an alternative at 18 mins past the hour but still requires changes of train to Havant then Clapham Junction and then on to Victoria.  If you go from London Bridge you need to change at East Croydon for the train service to Arundel and beyond.

If coming by train, either take a taxi (approx. cost £4.50) or if walking, turn right out of station and follow these directions, Walk along Linden Road until you reach Parklands Avenue, just after Parklands Avenue is a footpath on your left (opposite Town Cross Avenue) that if followed leads all the way to the entrance of the football club.

There is a good sized Social Club located inside the ground, which welcomes visiting fans. Nearby on Hawthorn Road is the Bognor Sports Club, which also has a bar that is open on matchdays. The Wheatsheaf pub, also on Hawthorn Road, is around a five minute walk away. This pub also serves food and has Sky Sports/BT Sport.

If you proceed down Nyewood Lane then the sea front is a half a mile or ten minute walk away. If you continue to the bottom of Nyewood Lane then you will reach the sea front, where on the left you will find the Waverley Pub. The centre of town is around a 15 minute walk away where there are plenty of pubs to be found including the Hatters (Wetherspoons), which is located on Queensway. This pub is listed in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide.  If you are looking for a good chippie then the Linden Fisheries on Linden Road especially if you are coming in by train is five star rated as is the Victoria Fish and Chips on Station Road.

Bognor Regis is a popular holiday resort in West Sussex which has housed the Butlins Holiday village since the 1930’s and was bestowed the “Regis” suffix after King George V went to recuperate in Bognor following lung surgery and as a thanks gave the town royal status.  Other areas nearby are Littlehampton and Selsey which may be o k to visit weather wise in mid-March