Bognor’s hopes of reaching Wembley suffered a blow as they went down 1-0 to Grimsby Town in the first leg of their FA Trophy semi-final at Nyewood Lane.

The Rocks matched their National League opponents throughout a cagey affair but were caught out by a goal from Nathan Arnold 15 minutes from time.

Goalkeeper Grant Smith ensured Jamie Howell’s side won’t have a bigger deficit to overturn in the second leg at Blundell Park next Saturday with a vital late save to deny Jon-Paul Pittman.

Bognor were neat and tidy but lacked a cutting edge with Ollie Pearce unable to make the most of their best chance when he fired wide from 18 yards.

Howell stuck to his promise of taking the game to Grimsby despite their lofty position in National League premier as the Rocks lined up with two up front Albion striker Chike Kandi came straight into the starting line-up after rejoining on loan to partner Jason Prior up front.

The former Chelsea forward did not make it to half-time though as he was replaced by Ollie Pearce having taken a knock.

Understandably with the stakes so high the first half was a very cagey affair with neither team able to carve out a clear opportunity.

Grant Smith was called into action early on in the Bognor goal to turn a shot from Nathan Arnold around his near post and was well placed to comfortably deal with a well-struck effort from Pat Hoban from the edge of the area.

Bognor were patient in their build up play but too often gave possession away. Their best moment came from an Alex Parsons cross from the right which Prior got his head to but was unable to trouble James McKeown.

The home side stepped things up at the start of the second half and had a good opportunity to break the deadlock three minutes after the restart.

The impressive Calvin Davies surged forward from right-back to play in Pearce but his shot went harmlessly wide of the far post.

But just as they were looking the most likely to score Bognor switched off at the back and fell behind.

A long ball forward was helped on by substitute Amond and Arnold fired a low shot past Smith from 16 yards.

It could have been almost game, set and match four minutes from time when a careless throw-in gifted Pittman the ball on the edge of the Bognor area but his effort from an angle was saved by Smith.