Havant & Wville vs Bognor Regis Town

The first half was a cagey affair until the 41st minute, when Bognor's L. Smith broke the deadlock to send the Rocks into the interval 1-0 up — a lead that undershot their growing control.

Whatever was said in the away dressing room at half-time worked immediately. Three minutes after the restart, Trialist D doubled the advantage with a composed finish, putting Bognor firmly in the driving seat.

Havant responded swiftly. R. Seager pulled one back in the 52nd minute, making it 2-1 and giving the home side a platform to build from. But the Hawks could not sustain the momentum.

Trialist D restored the two-goal cushion in the 74th minute with his second of the afternoon, effectively killing the contest. H. Searle added a fourth in the 86th minute as Bognor finished the stronger side. No cards were issued across the 90 minutes — a clean, professional workout for both sides.

Seager's 52nd-minute goal could have shifted the momentum in Havant's favour. At 2-1 with 38 minutes to play, the Hawks had a genuine chance to push for an equaliser. Instead, they failed to create sustained pressure, and Trialist D's second goal 22 minutes later extinguished any hope of a comeback. Bognor's ability to absorb the brief spell of Havant pressure and then reassert control was the decisive phase of the match.

Trialist D (Bognor Regis Town) — Two goals in a 26-minute second-half spell, the second of which sealed the win. An audition that will have caught the eye.

L. Smith (Bognor Regis Town) — Scored the crucial opener just before half-time, settling any early nerves and giving the Rocks a platform.

R. Seager (Havant & Waterlooville) — The only Hawks player to find the net, scoring a well-taken consolation in the 52nd minute that briefly revived the home side.

Player of the match: Trialist D — two clinical finishes in a match-winning performance.

The provider data shows five goals from the match, with Bognor's four strikes reflecting a clinical edge in front of goal. Havant's single goal came from their only sustained bright spell after the restart. The 0-1 half-time scoreline flattered the hosts slightly — Bognor had territorial control before the break. The fixture's H2H history now reads one win apiece from three meetings, with all three producing over 2.5 goals and both teams scoring in each — a pattern that held again here.

For Havant & Waterlooville, this was their fourth pre-season friendly (Friendlies #4, confirmed by the club's official X account). The result extends a mixed summer build-up that includes draws against Portsmouth and Dagenham & Redbridge in earlier friendlies. Bognor, meanwhile, build on a 3-0 win over Fareham Town on 8 July and will look to carry this attacking momentum into their remaining pre-season schedule.

Both sides continue their pre-season programmes ahead of the 2026-27 campaign. Neither club's league fixtures have been published at the time of writing.

A thoroughly professional pre-season display from Bognor Regis Town. Trialist D's double will be the talking point, but the away side's structure and fitness levels suggested a side further along in their preparations than their hosts. Havant will want to tighten up defensively before the competitive season begins.