Bognor Regis Town report
Kingstonian’s long losing streak came to a wonderful end on the South Coast as, having not scored a league goal in five outings, everything seemingly went right for a change as they put four goals past Bognor Regis Town with a super performance at Nyewood Lane.
The evolution of the Kingstonian squad continued with one more new player, this time Alex MacAllister arrived on loan from Aldershot Town and would play up front with Imran Kayani. Meanwhile Harun Hamid would make his first start for the club, replacing Slough-bound Tyrese Owen in the K’s midfield.
K’s started the game brightly but were unable to severely trouble the Bognor goalkeeper until the 28th minute when a poor clearance fell to Imran Kayani twenty yards out, who unleashed an incredible shot through the narrowest of gaps that darted past Rocks’ keeper Lloyd Thomas. Kingstonian’s first goal of February, on the 22nd of the month, was glorious.
Unfortunately, the lead lasted only four minutes when Rob Tolfrey made a fine save, only for the ball to bounce nicely to Dan Gifford, who headed into an empty net.
Incredibly, parity happened for just two minutes and it was Kingstonian who took the lead again. A fabulous run down the right wing by Jacob Bancroft ended with a fine, low cross into the box, with the ball being forced home at close range by debutant MacAllister.
K’s deservedly rode some luck early in the second half when Gifford missed an open goal and Tolfrey made more than one outstanding save, but they doubled their lead in the 70th minute. Imran Kayani beat the offside trap, was clipped by keeper Thomas whilst trying to go around him and, despite going on to put the ball wide, was given a second chance when the referee gave a penalty for the clip. Kayani stepped up himself and emphatically scored the kick.
The Rocks got a goal back in the 93rd minute when Harvey Whyte headed a corner on to the cross bar, only for Nathan Odokonyero to head the rebound home from about a foot out. There would be time for the Rocks to get an equaliser for themselves as the home faithful urged them on, but when they lost possession, K’s went on the break, passed the ball to substitute Ibrahim Jalloh on the right wing, who flew into the penalty area and coolly slid the ball into the net past the onrushing Bognor goalkeeper.
Seconds later the game was over and K’s had their first win since 7th January. Even more than that, they absolutely deserved the win with every single man in bottle green (or orange in Tolfs’ case) playing like heroes. For the first time in a long, long time, a small bit of happiness for the Kingstonian faithful.
Bognor Regis Town: Lloyd Thomas, Josh McCormack, Joe Rabbetts, Calvin Davies, Sam Magri, Craig Robson, Harvey Whyte, Sam de St Croix, Nathan Odokonyero, Dan Gifford, Alfie Bridgman.
Subs: Isaac Olaniyan (for Sam de St Croix, 54m), Cameron Black, Tom Chalaye (for Alfie Bridgman, 78m), Walter Figueira (for Josh McCormick, 59m).
Kingstonian: Rob Tolfrey, Ibrahim Bangura, Isaiah Jones, Danny Dudley, Matt Drage, Harun Hamid, Lee Lewis, Sean Bonnett-Johnson, Jacob Bancroft, Alex MacAllister, Imran Kayani.
Subs: Michael Abnett (for Isaiah Jones, 78m), Junior Mboglem, Bradley Kauzeni (for Alex MacAllister, 90m), Ibrahim Jalloh (for Harun Hamid, 88m).
Goals: Imran Kayani (28m, 0-1), Dan Gifford (32m, 1-1), Alex MacAllister (34m, 1-2), Imran Kayani (70m pen, 1-3), Nathan Odokonyero (90m+3, 2-3), Ibrahim Jalloh (90m+5, 2-4)
Attendance: 569
