Bognor Regis Town 2 Lowestoft Town 1

Lowestoft Town's trip to Bognor Regis Town in the FA Cup always looked a candidate for the proverbial banana skin and so it proved with the Rocks tumbling the Trawlerboys out of the competition.

Lowestoft had completed the transfer of Michael Spillane from Sutton United on Friday morning and he was put straight into the starting line-up in place of the suspended Erkan Okay with Jack Ainsley returning to the team in place of Harry Barker. Spillane looked a useful addition to the squad with a competent display and together with another assured performance from teenage keeper Harry Burgoyne provided the only positives from a dismal visit to the south coast.

There was a marked difference in the style of the two sides in the first half. Lowestoft probably held the balance of possession as they moved the ball around trying to create an opening. Bognor in contrast played a very direct game trying to exploit the pace of Alex Parsons down the right.

However, the best of efforts from both sides failed to create any clear-cut chances with neither keeper required to make any saves of note.

If Lowestoft had edged the first half the second proved completely the opposite. Lowestoft had replaced a subdued Jake Reed with Chris Henderson at the start of the second half and the change seemed to disrupt their game plan. This allowed Bognor to take a grip on the game and Lowestoft were forced very much on the back foot.

Danny Burns and Sam Nunn were having their work cut out dealing with the lively Jason Prior and Ollie Pearce.

After waiting 78 minutes for a goal, like the proverbial London bus, three turned up in the space of five minutes.

Bognor's opening goal resulted from a comedy of errors in the Trawlerboys defence. Firstly Ainsley's hasty clearance sent the ball back across the face of his own goal, Nunn's headed clearance had no distance and in the resultant goalmouth clearance Burgoyne made two incredible saves but could do nothing as Dan Beck forced the ball home.

Stung into more positive action Lowestoft drew level just four minutes later following their best move of the game. Substitute Robert Eagle's crossfield ball sent Ainsley scampering down the left and his low cross into the danger area was slid into the net from close range by Danny Crow.

Straight from the restart Bognor regained their lead with Ollie Pearce left completely unmarked in the area to place his shot wide of Burgoyne and just inside the far post.

Lowestoft pressed for an equaliser and had penalty appeals turned down as Henderson tumbled in the area only to receive a yellow card for simulation. A bad day at the office was compounded after the final whistle when Henderson was shown a red card for remarks made to the referee.