Bognor stormed to another impressive home victory with 3 goals coming in the second half after a relatively physical first half, which saw 9 minutes of added time played.
Tim Bond was absent from the team sheet, but new recruit Ben Andrews got a start. Stuart Axten returned from his suspension and Jason Prior came back after being rested in midweek at Leatherhead.
The game got off to a quick start, as after just 2 minutes Kane Wills found himself in space in Eastbourne’s half, but his pass was left by Prior, who tried to give Ben Johnson the ball but the attack broke down. Shortly afterwards Steve Harper struck wide.
Then Harper swirled in a cross for Prior but the tall striker headed wide.
Johnson curled in a ball from the left with Prior on the end of it again. But Kieron Thorpe was in his way to save.
Down the other end Craig Stoner easily gathered a low shot from ex-Rock Scott Kirkwood.
Another attempt by the visitors saw a freekick from inside Bognor’s half from Nathan Crabb headed wide by his teammate Matt Geard.
Rocks took the lead in the 9th minute. Another move down the left by Johnson allowed the winger to curl in a cross straight onto the head of Prior who made no mistake in diverting the ball low into the bottom corner.
On 13 minutes Harper fed Jon Marzetti on the right, who hit a searching cross into the area – but Thorpe gathered comfortably.
Then Kirkwood won the ball back off Harper’s poor pass. His cross was blocked by Chris Breach and the ball rolled off for a corner. But the kick from the right was disappointing, going straight out of play.
A deft flick by Kane Wills to Andrews after a James Crane bursting run down the left came to nothing, as Thorpe gathered the loose ball again.
On 21 minutes Andrews powered in a cross but none of his fellow players were present in the box and the goalkeeper was called upon again to catch the ball in the air.
Johnson’s left-sided corner kick couldn’t be headed by either Prior or Axten as both rose in the area. They managed to win a second corner, but it wasn’t good enough and easily cleared.
On 25 minutes Johnson tried to round Nytram Dixon-Baker near the edge of the box and went to ground. The defender seemed to tug the winger down but the referee ignored the claims for a free kick.
In a physical first half, Sonny Cobb had to be replaced through injury and moments later Andrews went into a hard tackle with Kirkwood and both required treatments.
Andrews was involved in the action again when he smashed a powerful shot, which rose above the bar and ricocheted off the stand behind.
Eastbourne lacked in the final third as ex-Rock Richard Greenfield swirled in a cross but found no teammate.
Prior then cleverly diverted the ball towards the net from an Andrews cross with his back to goal. Though Thorpe was grateful as it fell straight into his arms.
Crane and Johnson combined down the left flank to provide Harper with a cross. The tall player ran in on the back post and slid to reach the ball, but he poked his shot wide.
Thorpe got down well to stop a decent left-footed shot from Harper after the forward was set up with a cross from Crane.
Again the Crane-Johnson combination worked, allowing the former to get into space. But his shot was disappointingly hit high and wide.
On 43 minutes Chris Breach went down under a challenge. He received treatment for at least 3 minutes whereby he eventually headed to the dugout with a lacerated forehead, with blood pouring down his right cheek.
Breach was quickly replaced by Terry Dodd.
Due to the injuries, 9 minutes was indicated by the fourth official that were to be added on in the first half.
Crane went close with an individual run and shot, though it bounced wide of the left post from 30 yards out.
With 1 minute still to go of the 9 minutes of stoppage time, Johnson’s pinpoint corner found Dodd on the back post. But with pressure from a defender his header was deflected wide of the post.
The last chance of the half came when Crane powered in a cross for Prior unmarked on the back post. The striker headed the ball into the ground of which Thorpe was equal to and then Prior got on the end of another corner but headed wide – ending the eventful 55 minutes of action.
HT 1-0
Eastbourne had the first half chance of the restart when Greenfield turned inside the Rocks area after controlling a high ball from midfield. But sadly for him he skied his shot well over the bar.
Impressive captain Dan Beck beat Danny Simmonds to the ball before letting fly with a fierce shot from the edge of the D. He managed to force a double-handed save from Thorpe, winning a corner.
Rocks extended their lead in the 53rd minute. Prior slipped in a ball for Dodd, who beat his marker for pace before belting home high into the net.
On 56 minutes Harper won the ball back to pass to Wills. The midfielder lofted the ball into the box where Prior was waiting. The striker got his head to it but Thorpe saved.
Dodd then spotted Crane on the overlap who ran into the box. Again Dixon-Baker appeared to haul the player down, but despite cries for a penalty from both players and fans alike, the referee waved away any chances of a spot kick.
On the hour mark, Marzetti’s deep forward ball had to be tipped over the bar by Thorpe and shouts for handball were ignored by the referee from the resulting corner.
Good play from Beck, Johnson and Prior set up Harper on the right, but his cross was too powerful and flew off for a goal kick.
Marzetti won a corner and Harper stepped up to take it. It found Andrews who headed towards goal but Steve Elliott was on the line next to the right post to clear.
Johnson did well with 20 minutes left to win a corner from a deflected shot. Johnson’s corner kick found Prior in the box and he nodded the ball low into the net to put Rocks 3-0 up.
Two minutes later Crane was brought down and he won a free kick. The kick, taken by Harper, was instantly cleared as Thorpe felt the need to advance out of his goal mouth.
Then Johnson chose to cut inside before beating his marker and shooting from distance. Though his effort bounced just wide of the right post.
Bognor got their final goal of the day on 76 minutes when a neat passing move ended with Wills firing low beyond the outstretched Thorpe from inside the area.
On 83 minutes Bognor should have made it 5 when Dodd and Johnson partnered to find Prior in tonnes of space in the box. But he disappointingly skewered his shot high and just wide when a low shot would have been better.
Matt Geard went closest for the visitors in the second half. However, his curled shot missed the target and bounced wide of the left post.
Johnson tried his luck from 35 yards when he let fly with a shot that sailed well wide of the right post.
Rocks continued to dominate possession and had the last chance of the game. Johnson’s cross was headed across the area by Prior that Harper followed up on the volley – only to see his attempt flash over the bar from just outside the 6-yard box.
Full Time – 4-0
Team: Stoner, Marzetti (Cody 79), Crane, Andrews, Axten, Breach (Dodd 45+), Beck © (Blatchford 79), Wills, Prior, Harper, Johnson
Unused Subs: Ide, Boyle
