Serious injury mars Bognor's friendly win at Horndean

Bognor turned in a performance full of promise to win 3-0 at Horndean in their second friendly - but the night was overshadowed by a serious injury to young trialist Siph Mdlalose.
Siph Mdlalose is treated before being helped off / Picture: Martin DenyerSiph Mdlalose is treated before being helped off / Picture: Martin Denyer
Siph Mdlalose is treated before being helped off / Picture: Martin Denyer

The former Southampton and Salisbury midfielder suffered a suspected ruptured Achilles when he went over in an innocuous-looking incident just 10 minutes or so into the game at Five Heads Park.

He was helped off after the treatment and ended the evening being taken to hospital - a huge blow for the prospect, who was hoping to earn a deal at Nyewood Lane and had scored in the Rocks' first friendly, a 4-0 win at Selsey on Monday.

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By the time he was hurt Mdlalose had already set up Bognor's opener, three minutes in, when he volleyed an Ashton Leigh cross into the path of Jason Parish, who gratefully converted his second goal in two pre-season games.

The Rocks attack Horndean / Picture: Martin DenyerThe Rocks attack Horndean / Picture: Martin Denyer
The Rocks attack Horndean / Picture: Martin Denyer

Leigh turned scorer for the Rocks' second on 22 minutes, rifling a fierce straight drive into the top corner from outside the box after Parish and sub Alfie Lis had been denied by good goalkeeping and desperate defending.

Another neat goal made it three on 29 minutes, Will Stone turning away from the close attentions of a defender before sidefooting a shot wide of the Deans keeper.

Stone might have scored before and after his goal too - chipping one shot just over then rattling the woodwork as the Rocks cruised towards half-time in total control.

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That control continued in the second half, when Michael Birmingham's Horndean continued to struggle to break down Jack Pearce and Robbie Blake's side, although a raft of substitutes appeared for the Rocks after the break and that did hit their fluency.

If Parish, Lis and Stone had all looked sharp before the break, names that caught the eye after the break included Ethan Robb, Michael Baker and Tommy Leigh - the latter looking a stronger and more rounded player than he was last season for the Rocks in midfield. Italian forward Max Nascimento also showed some nice touches, having apparently impressed the Rocks bosses in training.

There were no further goals in the second half despite a couple of scrambles in the home box, but nor was there any hint that the result was going to be anything other than a comfortable Bognor win.

Next up it's a visit to East Preston next Wednesday - with coach Blake saying after this win he was content with how the squad was shaping up with a month still to go before the first league game.

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Rocks starting XI: Seymour, Davies, A Leigh, Mendoza, Cook, Wood, Mdlalose, Flannigan, Parish, Stone, Lethbridge. Subs inc: Whyte, Baker, Robb, Nascimento, T Leigh, Crane, Rowe, Lis.

See a post-match interview with Robbie Blake on this website on Saturday