Bognor Regis Town 0–1 Dorking
International Club Friendly | 4 July 2026, 20:30 BST

Dorking claimed a narrow 1‑0 win away at Bognor Regis Town in a closely contested pre‑season friendly. The National League South side dictated the early tempo, but a well‑organised home defence kept the score level until a late breakthrough.

Match Overview

The first half saw Dorking enjoy the better of the play without creating clear openings. Bognor Regis Town, competing two tiers below in the Isthmian League, sat deep and looked to spring counter‑attacks through pacey winger Sam French. However, final‑third quality was lacking for both sides, and the interval arrived goalless.

Key Moments

• 52nd minute – Dorking’s best chance of the match came when striker Callum Kennedy broke through on goal but shot straight at the home goalkeeper.
• 78th minute – The deadlock was finally broken. A Dorking corner was partially cleared, and the ball fell to midfielder James Bunn on the edge of the box. His low drive deflected off a defender and wrong‑footed the keeper.
• 89th minute – Bognor had a late chance to equalise when a free‑kick was headed just wide, but Dorking held on.

Standout Players

• James Bunn (Dorking) – The match‑winner with a composed finish under pressure, also covered significant ground in midfield.
• Harry Oliver (Bognor Regis Town) – The home goalkeeper made several smart saves to keep his side in the game, particularly in the first half.
• Sam French (Bognor Regis Town) – A livewire on the wing, he was the team’s main attacking outlet and drew three fouls.

Conclusion

Dorking will be pleased with their defensive organisation and the late goal that sealed a professional away victory. For Bognor Regis Town, the performance offered encouragement ahead of their Isthmian League campaign—they matched a higher‑division opponent for long stretches and will hope to carry that resilience into league competition.