Bognor looks like hospital ward - but team will fight to death for play-off spot

Mason Walsh looks for a way past two Worthing men / Picture by Tommy McMillan

Rocks bosses Jack Pearce and Robbie Blake have promised fans their injury-depleted troops will battle until the very last game of the season to try to clinch a Bostik premier play-off spot.

The list of absentees grows by the week and full-back Calvin Davies, midfielder Doug Tuck and striker Jimmy Muitt are all likely to miss this Saturday’s vital visit to Margate.

With winger Mason Walsh struggling to last 90 minutes as he gets over a pelvic injury and the hunt for new players proving difficult, Bognor are struggling to field a strong starting line-up.

But Pearce and Blake have praised the squad for continuing to work hard and show commitment to the cause – and have insisted they are still right in the mix for a top-five finish and a chance of promotion.

They now have two away games – a trip to Enfield on Saturday week follows the Margate game. After that on Tuesday week it's the home Sussex Senior Cup semi-final versus Brighton under-23s.

There was a deflated air around most of Nyewood Lane on Saturday after the Rocks had to settle for a 2-2 draw against fierce rivals Worthing having been 2-0 up with 16 minutes. The loss of three players to injury in the second half and contentious penalty and free-kick decisions that led to Worthing’s two goals were all big factors.

Rocks v Worthing in reflection The match in picturesPearce said: “At the end of it, everyone in Worthing was highly delighted and everyone in Bognor felt depressed, yet the teams took a point each and we are only two points and two places behind them in the table.