Rocks Review: Whyteleafe 0 Rocks 4

THE ROCKS made it eight wins from nine games this season with a convincing victory at Whyteleafe which cemented their position among the Ryman one south pace-setters this afternoon.

Bognor travelled to leafy Church Road looking to maintain their impressive start to the season which has seen them fail to win just once.

Chris Breach – back at the club after departing recently – came into the Rocks’ midfield in place of James Fraser who joined Whitehawk during the week.

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In a lively start, Bognor pressed forward, and in the sixth minute a testing cross from Matt Whitehead saw Terry Dodd beat the keeper to the ball – but his header was just off target.

However, in the ninth minute the Rocks took the lead when Jason PRIOR rose unmarked to head home Ben Johnson’s corner.

In reply the hosts went close in the 13th minute when Kwabena Agyei collected a stray pass in midfield before advancing and unleashing a spectacular drive which flew narrowly over the crossbar.

Bognor then took the ball up the other end and went close when Dodd’s effort hit the side netting.

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Bognor were enjoying plenty of freedom on the left and a great passing move resulted in Whitehead’s cross being fired over from six yards by Prior.

But in the 25th minute the Rocks doubled their lead when Tim BOND headed home Johnson’s corner.

Within seconds it was almost 3-0 when Prior flicked on to the post before some desperate defending saw the ball scrambled behind.

Prior went close again five minutes before the break when he collected through ball only to see his rising effort tipped over by Paul Smith.

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Bognor pressed forward again in the second half and substitute Luke Nightingale chased a ball on the right before switching the ball to the left to feed Dodd, who saw his effort blocked by Smith.

But on 65 minutes Bognor’s lead was extended further.

Following some sustained pressure, Bond could not quite convert Johnson’s cross – but NIGHTINGALE was on hand to fire it into the roof of the net from close range.

In the 72nd minute, Nightingale’s neat lay-off set up Kane Wills, whose low cross was beyond keeper Paul Smith but Dodd could only fire against the crossbar with the goal at his mercy.

In the dying minutes the Rocks completed the scoring when the hard-working DODD received the ball on the edge of the area before turning and unleashing a low drive which Smith was unable to prevent crossing the line.

It sets the Rocks up for Tuesday’s top-of-the-table clash at home to Dulwich Hamlet.

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