Bognor Regis Town vs Cray Wanderers – Isthmian Premier, Wednesday 7th December, 7.45 pm – Match Preview
Cray Wanderers play the last of five consecutive away matches on Wednesday, 7th December as the Wands head to Bognor Regis Town looking to maintain a six game undefeated league run. Kick off 7.45pm. Cray Wanderers and the Rocks are no strangers to each other this season having played three times earlier in the campaign including two FA Cup ties.
Cray come into the game on the back of a 1-0 win at Kingstonian on Saturday courtesy of Sam Wood’s close range header and moved Neil Smith’s side up to 8th in the Isthmian Premier league table on 29 points. The three points were well earned and defensively Cray have been much improved this season and the clean sheet at Imperial Fields was the sixth of the season.
For the trip to Bognor, Cray have Mitch Chapman available from suspension but Kellen Fisher has one more game of three before his return. New dual registration signing Omari Hibbert came on for the last 30 minutes at Kingstonian and the two Leyton Orient loanees, Jephte Tanga and Harrison Sodje were excellent and defended and got forward in equal measure. It was at times a game not pretty to watch but there were plenty of good performances from front to back and a well earned three points.
Bognor Regis Town are currently 14th in the table on 23 points but have played two games less than Cray going into the match on Wednesday. Robbie Blake’s side are one of just a couple of Isthmian Premier sides left in the FA Trophy and are away to Banbury United in the 3rd Round on Saturday 17th December. On Saturday, Bognor whose last four league games have been at home drew 0-0 with Hastings United.
At home Bognor Regis Town have beaten Hornchurch (1-0), Wingate & Finchley (3-0), Herne Bay (2-1), Corinthian Casuals (3-2) and Bowers & Pitsea (2-1). The Rocks drew with Carshalton Athletic (3-3) and Hastings United (0-0) with the only defeats to Potters Bar Town (1-2) and Haringey Borough (0-1). Away from home Bognor won at Aveley (6-1) and drew at Cray Wanderers, Kingstonian and Enfield Town and were beaten at Horsham, Canvey Island, Billericay Town and Margate. In the cups, after beating Cray, Bognor Regis were beaten at home by Hampton & Richmond Borough and their FA Trophy run to the 3rd Round has seen victories at home to Bowers & Pitsea (1-0) and away at Weston-super-Mare (2-1) and Lewes on penalties after a 2-2 draw.
Cray Wanderers and Bognor Regis Town early season trilogy saw a 2-2 draw at Hayes Lane on August 17 with Harold Joseph and Nyren Clunis scoring for Cray and Nathan Odonokonyero who has been something of a thorn in Cray’s side scored twice for Bognor Regis Town. In the FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round at Nyewood Lane on 3rd September, it finished 2-2 with Gary Lockyer and Michael Ademiluyi scoring for Cray but goals from Nick Dembele and Odonkonyero earned a replay four days later which Bognor won 4-0 with Isaac Olaniyan, Demble, Odonkonyero and Tom Chalaye scoring in a rare off night for the Wands this season.
Despite the World Cup getting down to its final 8 sides there has still been plenty of good quality football going on elsewhere and it should be another great game at the Nye Camp even if with a rather chilly south coast air.
DIRECTIONS TO BOGNOR REGIS TOWN FC
Bognor Regis Town FC
ADDRESS – Bognor Regis Town FC,
Nyewood Lane,
Bognor Regis,
PO21 2TY
Admission Prices
Adults, £13 terrace + £1 for seating
Senior citizen (over 65) £10 + 1 for seating
U18s (and students with ID) £5
Pay on gate or online at:
https://therocks.ktckts.com/event/bog2223h14/bognor-regis-town-v-cray-wanderers
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:
Direct trains to Bognor Regis go from London Victoria at 05 & 35 mins (please note the 17.05 requires a change at Horsham)past the hour and takes 1 hr 45 mins on a Wednesday night. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE LAST DIRECT TRAIN BACK TO VICTORIA IS AT 21:29 WHEN THE MATCH IS STILL ON. The best bet would be to catch the 22:36 but this requires a couple of changes of train. From Bognor Regis to Barnham (22:43 arrives platform 1), then 22:48 from platform 3 to Three Bridges and at 23:51 from platform 4 to London Victoria arriving at 00:41.
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.
