Robbie Blake on... saying sorry to the Rocks players, reaching a semi-final - and the prospect of having a fully-fit Bognor squad

Mason Walsh is fouled for the penalty that put Bognor two up against Potters Bar / Picture by Tommy McMillan

Robbie Blake admitted he apologised to his own players after questioning whether the team were good enough to succeed this season.

The Rocks coach said he went too far in criticising them after they blew a 2-0 lead at home to Potters Bar on Saturday in a game that finished 2-2 and might even have been won by the visitors.

The former Burnley, Bradford and Leeds striker said sorry to them ahead of Tuesday’s Sussex Senior Cup quarter-final at home to East Grinstead – and was rewarded with a hard-working performance which resulted in a 5-3 extra-time win that puts the Rocks into the semi-finals.

It was an evening when Bognor were without 13 players – nine of whom they are paying. Also absent was flu-ridden manager Jack Pearce, who went home ill before kick-off.

It was a very young Rocks team who took on East Grinstead in the cup / Picture by Darren Crisp

That left Blake in sole charge of a squad that included borrowed Horndean goalkeeper Kieran Magee and Chichester College academy duo Roland Kardos and Linden Burke.

Two goals apiece from Jimmy Muitt and Jimmy Wild, plus one from home debutant Harvey Read, saw the Rocks through after East Grinstead had battled back from an early 2-0 deficit to force an extra 30 minutes on a cold night when no-one really wanted it.

Bognor will look to build on the win with a league visit on Saturday to Corinthian Casuals. They will have several of Tuesday’s absentees back but will still be without eight men on their books.