ROCKS REVIEW: Bosses eye unfinished business

Despite a two-week lay-off, Bognor returned to action at Horsham YMCA on Saturday and it was business as usual in their 3-0 victory.

But the joint bosses Darin Killpartrick and Jamie Howell are wanting to put something right at Nyewood Lane this weekend.

The Ryman League division one south table-toppers, currently unbeaten in their last seven, fell to their last defeat to Saturday’s visitors back at the end of January in a 4-0 reverse, which was their heaviest league loss of the season.

After being reduced to 10 men in just the third minute, as Ryan Parry was sent of for an alleged elbow, which the Rocks disputed at the time, they faced a long evening and never got into the game.

It was at the time, and still is, just their third league defeat of the season, and Killpartrick is out to set the record straight on Saturday.

He said: “They beat us down there quite comfortably and we need to make sure that doesn’t happen again.

“Yes there was a controversial refereeing decision, but that happens sometimes in football and you get things like that.

“We need to be right at the races, as that defeat there hurt us and I want to make sure we don’t let it happen again.

“It was an extremely disappointing result, especially as we took a lot of fans down with us, so we need to put it right.”

The management pair, having seen what Faversham are capable of, are expecting a very tough game and one they may have to tweak their formation for.

But a couple of weeks off, giving chance for a few niggling injuries to heal and the opportunity to iron any issues with their game, has set them in good stead.

Killpartrick said: “Our tactics need to be spot on. They gave us a tough game and they are an extremely good side. We’ll need to combat the way they play and get the formation right.”

Howell is also under no illusion of the challenge they face to continue their latest unbeaten run.

He said: “It’ll be a difficult game, they plan a certain type of football. They are very direct, but also have real quality in their attack. So it’s a tough hurdle for us to overcome.”

Asked if the break had helped them, he commented: “I think it has. It has given us a real chance to reflect and focus, as well as a chance to get over any niggles injury-wise.

“We have a tough run-in now, but everyone has and I think they’ll be a few surprises along the way. We just need to keep doing what we have done all season.”

Leading the table often brings with it the tag of being the team to beat, but the Rocks have coped well with leading the pile.

Killpartrick is happy with the way his side are coping and he wanted to thank the fans for their continued support, describing them as their 12th-man.

He said: “We trained hard in the time off, the spirit in the camp is extremely high and we are ready for the run-in.

“Being top is just something you have to deal with, that is the most important part. Some people would rather be third or fourth chasing, but I am pleased that we are dealing with where we are.

“I’d like to, as ever, thank the fan base and say we are extremely grateful.

“I want to ask them to please keep getting behind us for the run in as they really a 12th man to the guys on the pitch.”

Injury-wise for Saturday Bognor are waiting on James Fraser, who has dislocated a shoulder, and Luke Nightingale, who had an Achilles problem flare up at training on Tuesday night.

OLLIE BERRY