The opening day of the season saw a wonderful minutes applause ring around Theobalds Lane as the club marked the passing of supporter Bryan Phillips and former player and manager John Newman. Both men would have enjoyed the action that followed.

Sam Granville wheels away after scoring the opening goal.                                   photo Scott Lear

Cheshunt: 3

Sam Granville – 15’    Nathaniel Orafu- 18′    Kai Brown – 50’

Bognor Regis Town:

Tommy-Lee Higgs – 71’ (pen), 78’

The Ambers started very quickly. They took the lead after just 15 minutes as Sam Granville scored his first goal for the club. Dernell Winter picked out the midfielder’s late run from the right and crossed low,  Granville then smashed it into the top right corner from the edge of the box. They scored again through Nathaniel Orafu three minutes later. From the left. Dernell Wynter picked the midfielder out making a late run towards the penalty spot, and he rose above two defenders and headed into the far bottom corner.

Nathaniel Orafu heads home the second goal.                                                           photo Scott Lear

Cheshunt continued to dominate the chances; the second half was no different as Brown directed Taylor Miles’ ball into the back of the net to make It three after fifty minutes.

Kai Brown hooks Cheshunt’s third goal in from close range                                photo Scott Lear

The Rocks started to get back into the game, with substitutions giving them some forward momentum. Callum Barlow went close twice in quick succession with efforts at both back posts. Calvin Davies then had an effort saved by Sami Nabbad; his powerful low driven effort was palmed out expertly by the Ambers keeper. Bognor did get one back, substitute Tommy-Lee Higgs tucked home a penalty after he had muscled his way into the box forcing the Ambers defenders onto the wrong side for a challenge.  Higgs scored again minutes later as he somehow found space in the middle of a penalty box scramble and fired home. Bognor were now pushing for an equaliser, and it almost came when Lucas Pattenden’s cross found Barlow at the near post, but Nabbad again saved well. Cheshunt fought off a very extended period of additional time to earn all three points at home in an exciting match, and a fitting way to pay tribute to Bryan Phillips & John Newman.

Some wonderful work from all the photographers on the day too.  Enjoy their capturing of the action in the galleries available here

Scott Lear Flickr

Amy Eve Photography

Lyn & Trev Sports