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Rocks 0 Dartford 2
The relegated Rocks bid farewell to the Ryman premier division on a losing note as champions Dartford strolled to a 2-0 win at Nyewood Lane.
The result, coupled with Waltham Abbey winning, meant the Rocks finished bottom after losing their last five matches.
It was an afternoon of contrasts as the Rocks welcomed Ryman premier champions Dartford to a warm and sunny Nyewood Lane for the final league game of the campaign.
The Rocks welcomed back Dan Beck into the starting XI while 42-year-old Guy Rutherford was named for his fourth game in eight days.
The home side showed a nice touch before kick-off when they formed a guard of honour to welcome the champions on to the pitch.
Click here for the final Ryman premier division table
The game was only a minute old when Dan Beck had the first shot at goal after a lay-off from Jason Prior, but his effort from 25 yards was well off–target.
At the other end, the hundreds of Dartford fans behind Anthony Ender's goal had their first moment of excitement when a high cross from the right was only just over his bar.
The main contest of the afternoon was to see which set of fans could make the most noice. The Darts followers were in great voice as they celebrated their title, but the green army at the other end were doing their best to make a din of their own.
The opening 15 minutes were fairly tame, with a couple of high crosses into the six-yard box – easily taken by each keeper – the best either side could manage.
Dartford made an early change after leading scorer Lee Burns took a knock. He was replaced by Rob Haworth.
No sooner was he on than his side had the lead in the 18th minute. A free-kick from the left touchline was swung in and defender Jamie Coyle rose highest to nod it down past Ender and in.
It went from bad to worse six minutes later when Lee Noble added the visitors' second. A quick free-kick was played through to him on the edge of the area and with the defence asleep, his touch to take it past Ender was enough to carry the ball in.
The Rocks almost found a way back into it when Beck set up Lewis Ide for a shot which cannoned back off a post.
Despite enjoying plenty of possession, the Rocks looked short of ideas when it came to getting past the Darts defence.
Haworth set up Alan Tait for a shot from 20 yards but he hit a volley into the ground and it was an easy take for Ender.
The Rocks were forced into a change on 38 minutes when top scorer Prior had to be replaced by Harry Bowles. Beck moved up front, Patrick Cox switched to midfield and Bowles slotted in at left-back.
Sub Haworth found himself with a clear run on goal four minutes from the break but with time to compose himself his shot was awful and didn't trouble Ender.
Noble needed treatment off the pitch when a challenge left him with blood pouring from his ear.
HT 0-2
Noble didn't reappear for the second half and was replaced by Ryan Hayes.
One boost for the Rocks was the size of the crowd – 868, with between 500 and 600 of those from Dartford.
Ryan Johnson got forward to test Ender with a stinging shot from 25 yards but Ender held it.
Dartford threatened again when Tait made life difficult for Tim Bond from a cross into the six-yard box but the striker was ruled to have fouled the defender.
The Rocks were creating absolutely nothing in the second half, the best they could manage a three-man move which ended with Cox overhitting a through-ball to Ide and the ball going out for a goal kick.
Play switched to the other end and Danny Harris sent a piledriver goalwards which Ender did well to tip over.
The corner led to a clash of heads between Bond and Coyle. Both were back on after treatment.
On 70 minutes, the Rocks brought on their second sub, Charlie Marshall, for Ide. But the change did little to bring any more life to a perhaps-not-surprisingly tired performance from Darin Killpartrick and Jamie Howell's battle-weary players.
Dartford replaced Adam Flanagan with Billy Burgess with eight minutes left, while Bognor brought on Charlie Oatway for Beck.
The game was over as a contest and the Rocks never really looked like getting the goal needed to make the dying stages interesting.
Marshall did go on one weaving run but when he tried to play in Charlie Oatway, the pass was too strong.
Dartford threatened again from another high ball in from the left as Tait saw a header blocked on the line.
Oatway almost made it 2-1 with a shot which keeper Andrew Young tipped on to the
The Rocks' fans did at least keep on singing until the end.
They still have the Sussex Senior Cup final to look forward - but also have to face up to next season in division one south.
The final whistle brought many of the Dartford fans on to the pitch to mob their heroes, while the Rocks players also got a great reception as they went to fans on all four sides of the ground to show their appreciation for the support given them during another long hard season.
Rocks: Ender, Crane, Cox, Ide, Bond, Demetriou, Wood, Birmingham, Prior, Beck, Rutherford. Subs: Oatway, Bowles, Marshall, Killpartrick, Lawrence.
Dartford: Young, Johnson, Gross, Flanagan, Coyle, White, Noble, Shinn, Tait, Burns, Harris. Subs: Beales, Dafter, Hayes, Haworth, Burgess.
Ref: Mr D Cook (Gosport)
Report by Steve Bone
Click here to give us your views on relegation and the season as a whole. Can the Rocks end on a high by beating Brighton to lift the Sussex Senior Cup - and can they bounce back with promotion next season.
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Weather for Bognor
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 23 mph
Wind direction: East
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Temperature: 12 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
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