McBean makes his point

BROMLEY came away from Bognor Regis Town on Tuesday evening with a share of the spoils in a 1-1 draw, but the Lillies must count themselves lucky as the home side squandered several clear-cut chances to clinch the match.

Goalkeeper Gareth Williams came to his side’s rescue on several occasions.

Ironically, it was a mix up between Williams and Steve Clark which led to Bognor’s second half equaliser.

The visitors got off to a perfect start when they opened the scoring in the eighth minute. Warren McBean fastened onto a long pass over the home defence to take it around the outcoming keeper and slot home past a defender on the line.

Bognor might have levelled on 15 minutes when Danny Smith burst through, but Williams was quickly off his line to block his shot at the expense of a corner.

Five minutes later, it was Bromley who might have increased their lead. McBean was once more through on goal, but his shot ricocheted off goalkeeper Chris Tardif to Jay May and his volley from 25 yards was cleared off the line by a defender.

Bromley came under mounting pressure and Tom Clark fired a free-kick straight into the arms of Williams, before another shot was blocked by Rob Gillman. A goalmouth scramble ensued before Williams pounced on Carl Pettefer’s close range stab as the hosts ended the half on top.

Williams came to the rescue again on 52 minutes when he brilliantly tipped over Clark’s firmly-struck free-kick from the edge of the area, before Bognor deservedly levelled the scores on 55 minutes. Clark and Williams got in a muddle by leaving the ball for each other to clear and Bognor’s Clark nipped in between them to hook a shot over Williams and into the net.

Loui Fazakerley was unlucky not to score on 64 minute when his curling shot from the left was tipped around by Tardif and from his corner, Clark’s firm downward header was scrambled off the line by the goalkeeper.

A succession of substitutions for both sides meant the game became disjointed, but it was Bognor who finished strongly as they went in search of only their second league win of the season.

On 83 minutes, Clark made a timely tackle to deny Jordan Hughes after the forward had broke clear and a dipping cross by Reggie Savage was tipped over by Williams five minutes later.

From the resultant corner, Williams pounced on the line to deny Stefan Gaisie following another scramble in the six-yard box.

Meanwhile, Karl Murray and May have returned to the club following their loan spells at Sutton United and Ramsgate respectively.

Bromley: Williams, Clark, Everitt, Murray (Swaibu 77), Sobers, Gillman, Robinson (Corneille 62), I’Anson, McBean, May (O’Sullivan 70), Fazakerley, Subs not used: Manuella, Joseph. Att: 255.