Bognor Regis Town 3, Thurrock 1

THURROCK's 100 per cent start to 2008 ended disappointingly at Nywood Lane on Saturday in a match billed as pivotal to the rest of their Blue Square South season.

After last week's thrilling and unexpected win at promotion contenders Hampton and Richmond, this clash against struggling Bognor always had the feel of a banana skin about it, and so it proved, though Fleet did play some decent football and may consider the home side flattered by the margin of victory.

The opening 45 minutes were evenly contested, with David Bryant missing the best chance of the half but he failed to put Thurrock ahead and they were to rue the opportunity.

Bognor stepped up the pace in the second half and were rewarded for some enterprising football with the opening goal through defender Mark Knee on 66 minutes.

The outcome wasn't decided until an eventful last nine minutes with Bognor stretching their lead on 81 minutes through Andy person and putting the issue to bed four minutes later.

There was just time in the last minute for Craig Hughes to give Thurrock a consolation and put them in a better frame of mind for next Wednesday's hurriedly re-arranged home clash with FA Cup heroes Havant and Waterlooville.