NIGHTINGALE RETURNS TO HAUNT THE TERRAS
by Paul Edwards

Monday 23 August 2004

BOGNOR REGIS 2 WEYMOUTH 2 WEYMOUTH returned from West Sussex with their first point of the season and a reminder of what they let go, as old boy Luke Nightingale hit a brace for the home side to clinch a share of the spoils.

Bognor, renowned for their flowing football, started well and could have twice taken the lead in the opening ten minutes through Ben Watson.

His first effort saw his shot from an acute angle saved by a stretched Jason Matthews, before he curled another effort from inside the box straight at the keeper.

The Terras took the lead in the ninth minute when the ball was played into Lee Phillips, who calmly turned and drilled over the top of Bognor goalkeeper Craig Stoner.

Two minutes later, Weymouth were 2-0 up. Lee Philpott's cross was met by Chukki Eribenne, who easily turned his marker before rifling home from close range.

In an eventful five-minute spell, the home side were awarded a penalty as Robbie Pethick rather clumsily brought down Michael Birmingham inside the box.

Up stepped Nightingale, who calmly dispatched it into the far left-hand corner with Matthews having gone in the opposite direction, after 15 minutes.

Phillips thought he had regained Weymouth's two-goal advantage when he finished off from close range at the far post, after Nathan Bunce had done well to win a header from a corner, only to be denied by the linesman's flag.

Watson then missed out at the far post to Matthews, and Eribenne was denied by Stoner.

Before the break Eribenne and Phillips had chances. However, when Stoner placed a clearance straight at the striker his effort was wide, and Phillips somehow managed to place his free header past the post.

To make matters worse, the home side equalised in the 46th minute with a well-worked and well-taken goal. Guy Rutherford played an exquisite ball into the box, which Nightingale met and deftly directed past Matthews into the far corner.

Phillips, who looked the most threatening again, found space in behind the Bognor rearguard. However, his cross was somehow completely missed at the near post by substitute Lee Charles.

Paul Gibbs then let fly from outside the box with Stoner well and truly beaten, only to be denied by the woodwork.

Matthews ensured the teams remained level when he denied Birmingham at his near post, after a fine break had created some space on the left-hand side of his defence.

Defender Kevin Murphy then directed a header past the far post, and Jody Rowland toe-poked an effort narrowly wide.

The last 15 or so minutes saw Weymouth go all out in search of the winner, and Martin Barlow was only denied by an excellent save from Stoner.

Late in the game, Stoner again saved the Rocks as he raced from his line to dive bravely at the feet of Charles

Weymouth: Jason Matthews, Steve Tully, Paul Gibbs, Nathan Bunce (68mins Matt Bound), David Waterman, Robbie Pethick, Paul Buckle (68mins Shaun Wilkinson), Chukki Eribenne (46mins Lee Charles), Martin Barlow, Lee Philpott, Lee Philips


Subs not used: Ian Hutchinson, Jamie Impey

Bognor Regis Town: Graig Stoner, David Piper, Jodey Rowland, Darren Budd, Chris Breach, Kevin Murphy, Ben Watson, Michael Birmingham, Daniel Beck, Luke Nightingale, Guy Rutherford (75mins Howell)

Subs not used : Jamie Howell, Matt Russell, Simon Clayton, Lou Savage

Referee: Mr S Creighton

Bookings:

Weymouth: 55 mins Barlow

Bognor Regis Town: 55mins Birmingham, 70mins Breach