Bognor smash seven past Southwick in county cup

Another goal for the Rocks as they ease past Southwick / Picture by Tim Hale

Calvin Davies returned after a stomach bug to start for Bognor. Jimmy Wild was back following concussion and Jimmy Muitt got a rare start as he works his way to full match fitness.

Doug Tuck and Sami El-Abd were rested on the bench.

Bognor looked the stronger side from the start. Ollie Pearce’s cross from the right found Wild on the back post and he smashed it across goal as James Fraser ran in and blasted over on five minutes.

Lorenzo Dolcetti tried his luck from long distance but blasted wide with moments later.

Chad Field had headed the ball into the net on nine minutes but it was disallowed for a foul in the follow-up.

Bognor took the lead on ten minutes when a shot by Pearce struck the bar and Southwick defender Jacob Cook before going in.

Wild headed wide moments later following a Jimmy Muitt cross and Fraser also forced the goalkeeper into a save.

Bognor increased their advantage on 18 minutes. Fraser’s work on the right paid off when his cross found the sliding Muitt who poked it into the bottom corner.

It was soon 3-0 on 21 minutes. Fraser won a corner on the right. Pearce’s kick found Wild, who headed at goal and Ed Sanders followed it up by firing it low into the net.

Muitt was at the mercy of a late sliding challenge by George Watts and he received a booking.

Pearce’s left-sided corner found Wild in the box but headed it over on 27 minutes.

Field’s header from another Pearce corner was headed off the line minutes later by Elliott Tucker. Then Pearce blasted wide after cutting inside and unleashing a powerful shot.

Wild let fly with a low attempt from outside the box following a square pass from Muitt which brought yet another save from the keeper.

Field looped a header back at goal following another Pearce corner that was again cleared off the line.

Bognor went four up on 35 minutes. James Crane’s low swooping cross was going in but Fraser flicked it with his heel and it flew into the bottom corner.

It was five on 45 minutes as Davies’ low cross was converted by Muitt in a crowded area.

HT 5-0

The Rocks made two substitutions at half-time. Will Robinson and Fintan Walsh replaced Fraser and Field. The Wickers also made a change, bringing off Dave Satchell for Jake Locke.

Wild bundled a Davies cross wide on 51 minutes.

Joe Bidwell was replaced on 52 minutes by Daley McLennan. Dan Lincoln did his first real piece of goalkeeping of the night when he defended a free-kick that bounced up in front of him but he did well to stop it.

Dolcetti received a yellow card for a late challenge in the middle of the park.

Robinson won a free-kick for Bognor on 61 minutes. The lay-off to Crane saw the full-back smash it low off a defender but harmlessly into the arms of Bradley Stevens in the Wickers goal.

Bognor scored again on 65 minutes. Pearce slammed home the goal after pressure from the Rocks deep in the Southwick half.

The Wickers did have a chance when Josh Bidwell found himself with only Lincoln to beat but the goalkeeper blocked him confidently.

Rocks replaced Muitt for Sami El-Abd on 70 minutes. Pearce’s freekick found El-Abd instantly but he powered his header high and wide.

Crane’s pinpoint cross then picked out Wild but his header also flew high and wide when he had time and space to perhaps do better.

Russ Petts blasted wide in a long-range effort in a rare chance for the visitors.

The seventh goal came on 81 minutes. Wild teed up the onrushing Crane who sped down the left before shooting low into the net.

Pearce scored again on 89 minutes but this time it was disallowed for offside.

A late surge from Southwick saw McLennan head just wide. Then keeper Stevens went up for a corner which led to El-Abd shooting from distance with the keeper out of his goal – then Robinson smacked his 25 yard effort off the crossbar.

Rocks: Lincoln, Davies, Crane, Budd, Sanders, Field (Walsh HT), Fraser (Robinson HT), Dolcetti, Wild, Pearce, Muitt (El-Abd 70). Unused sub: Tuck.

Attendance - 241

LIAM GOODLEY

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