Bognor steamrolled their way into the next round of FA Cup with a resounding win over Camberley Town - 4 goals of which came in the second half.
They will take on Sittingbourne at home next in the competition after they managed to beat Peacehaven 2-1 today.
Rocks began proceedings with their top scorer from last year, Jason Prior on the bench. 6 substitutes were on the sidelines for the hosts including promising youngster Jack Blatchford. James Crane was the only player missing from the team sheet.
Surprisingly it was the visitors who took the initiative early on. With just 3 minutes on the clock, James Mepham almost got on the end of a cross by Michael Smith, but Craig Stoner managed to gather after pressure from the defence closed down the attack.
Then Martin Girling let fly with a looping shot from well out but Stoner had it covered as it bounced wide.
Rocks’ first attack came on 5 minutes as Ben Johnson laid the ball off for James Fraser in the opposition’s half. The midfielder smashed a shot towards goal that was easily caught by shot-stopper Stuart Norman.
Some neat passing play lead to Luke Nightingale finding himself with the ball in the box but he was blocked off with his pass attempt inside the area.
Rocks continued to create chances at a fast rate. Fraser got into space in the box to chip the ball across the area. After a defender looped a header into the air, it was Dan Beck who tried to capitalise but his header swung over the bar.
Down the other end Adam Cornell headed the ball onto Mepham from a Stacey Thripp free kick. Mepham’s acrobatic attempt saw the ball roll wide of the left post.
On 9 minutes Terry Dodd managed to win a corner on the left. But Johnson’s kick failed to go beyond the first defender.
It was only a matter of time before the first goal came. And on 11 minutes the ball was in the back of the net. Johnson used his speed to beat Dale Webb on the left to curl in a great cross for Nightingale in the area. All the striker had to do was glance his header into the net unmarked.
Dodd then cut the ball to Johnson in a one-two move, splitting the defence. Johnson managed to thread in Nightingale, whose shot was saved by Norman’s legs - though the linesman had his flag up for offside so a goal wouldn’t have counted.
Matt Whitehead squared the ball from the left to Johnson and from around 30 yards he could only spray his left-footed shot well wide.
Then Jon Marzetti, surging forward from right back, bounced a low ball in to Dodd. Dodd, under pressure and with a player behind him, managed to flick the ball over his marker. Though the ball ran too far for him to capitalise on it.
Some hard work from the back saw Whitehead and Kane Wills gift Johnson the ball. The winger tried to find Dodd on the run but Norman came of his goal to gather as Rocks fans showed their appreciation of the move.
Webb then had to receive treatment, which held up play for a few minutes. Play continued when he was deemed to be off the pitch by the referee.
Marzetti received the ball on the right from Beck. His cross almost found Fraser in the box but a defender managed to head clear.
Rocks continued their search for a second goal. On 27 minutes Wills received a pass from Johnson’s short corner kick to cross. Stuart Axten powerfully rose to head over the bar from a few yards out.
Camberley seemed doomed in their attempts to find an equaliser. And this was evident when Webb’s long range free kick went straight out for a goal kick.
Dodd then played the ball on the overlap to Fraser. But although he tried a cross, it was deflected off Paul Andrews and into the arms of Norman.
Wills then linked well with Fraser, who managed to place a through ball in for Dodd but last ditch defending halted the striker in his tracks.
Johnson capitalised on a downed player to speed through and hit a low shot from outside the box. Though again Andrews was in the way to deflect Johnson’s shot with Norman gathering it afterwards.
Then Marzetti had a right-sided cross headed clear before Whitehead had won a corner on the left. Johnson’s kick fell to Fraser who dived to head it. Though the contact wasn’t good enough and Norman saved.
Another corner for the hosts was won by Fraser after his close-range shot was deflected just wide by a defender. Johnson’s cross tried to pick out Tim Bond but Girling got their first to head clear. Though it came at price - with both requiring immediate treatment after a clash of heads.
HT 1-0
Camberley would have been relieved to have gone in at half time only 1-0 down. They did have the first half-chance of the second half when a long ball by Jeff Cavey was chipped forward but Axten in defence headed neatly back to his goalkeeper.
With 5 minutes gone of the restart, Fraser was brought down just outside the box. He stepped up to take the free kick himself, which took one bounce before Norman saved.
The visitors rarely got the ball forward, and when they did they failed to hit the target. Mepham fired well over when he was given space outside the box.
From wide on the right Marzetti managed to power in a cross, but the accuracy wasn’t great as it hit the top of the net and away for a goal kick.
But Rocks scored their second of the day on 53 minutes. Nightingale did well to hold the ball up and laid it off to the onrushing Johnson. The winger hit the ball first time with his unfavoured right foot into the bottom left corner of the net.
Three minutes later and Bognor were 3-0 up. Again Nightingale was the provider when he laid the ball off for Dodd, who rounded about 3 players before slotting home into the bottom right corner.
Substitute Prior’s first attack since he arrived, came within seconds. His shot at goal was saved and Dodd tried to follow it up on the rebound but he was thwarted by a defender.
Down the other end Mepham played in Cornell. After beating his defender, Cornell’s left-footed swirled wide of the left post.
Though Rocks replied when Marzetti drove the ball across the 6-yard box but Michael Siemack was on the back post to boot away.
Bognor were playing their traditional passing game, frustrating the opposition. Dodd passed to Prior who was tripped from behind by Siemack. The free kick, taken from just outside the area by Prior himself. His shot took a deflection in the wall before spinning onto the left post and away.
The referee deemed that Smith was tripped in the area on 71 minutes and awarded a penalty. Though some Rocks fans would have disagreed, with the player seeming to go down easily. Up stepped Smith who drove it low beyond the reach of Stoner. The goalkeeper got his fingertips to it, but it wasn’t quite enough..
Substitute Louie Castles managed to beat Thripp for pace on the right to let fly with a cross. However, it was headed clear instantly.
Whitehead then teed up Prior with a left-sided cross. Though the tall striker narrowly headed over.
Credit is due to the visitors, who stayed strong defensively and stuck to their task. Wills lofted the ball forward to Prior but Siemack sprang into the air to quickly head clear.
Bognor nabbed their 4th of the day on 78 minutes. Castles crossed from the right, which fell to Axten deep on the left side of the box. The defender headed back across the goal and it was Camberley’s defender, Andrews who headed it into his own net.
Whitehead sped forward and unleashed another attempt at goal from the corner of the box but Norman easily saved.
Rocks finished off their lower-league opposition on 87 minutes with their 5th and last goal of the day. Another cross from Castles found Prior in the centre of the area who headed over Norman’s right shoulder and into the net.
Mepham let another shot go sailing over Bognor’s goal but the final whistle soon sounded to end Camberley’s miserable day.
Rocks on the other hand look forward to the rest of the season. They take on Sittingbourne away next in the Ryman Division One South and are currently on a 5-game unbeaten run in all competitions this season.
Team: Stoner, Marzetti, Whitehead, Fraser (Breach 60), Axten, Bond, Beck (Castles 70), Wills, Dodd, Nightingale © (Prior 60), Johnson
Unused Subs: Blatchford, Wollers, Ide
