TWO first-half goals proved the undoing of Bognor as the Rocks slipped to their first league defeat since early October.
Charlie Oatway gave the Rocks hope when he pulled a goal back. But despite a late rally, Bognor could not claim a point.
Rocks welcomed back Lewis Ide from suspension while Richard Greenfield got a first-team start.
Michael Birmingham, reappeared as a substitute after his two-week rib and calf injury at a damp Nyewood Lane.
Rocks began in a scrappy manner and Sutton had the better of the first quarter of an hour when Pouton won a corner after a decent move down the right. The resulting kick was headed well by Goodliffe but the ball just went wide of the post.
On eight minutes, Ide slipped a pass into the path of Crane whose cross unfortunately could not find a Bognor player.
Daniel Bogard ran a full half of the field to get on the end of an Ide pass but former Hawks keeper Kevin Scriven in the Sutton goal managed to get there first.
On 13 minutes, Bogard was again in the action but again the keeper got there first and cleared the danger.
The first goal came on 26 minutes when Sam Gargan found himself in space in the Bognor area before going down under a challenge.
The Rocks fans thought it was a dive but the referee gave a spot-kick and POUTON stepped up to drive the ball home.
On 38 minutes, Taylor managed to find himself space in the Rocks area after poor marking and hit the ball on the volley from 10 yards into the top left-hand corner for 2-0.
On the stroke of half-time, Gargan slid in to tackle Demetriou and then run on into the box and hit a low shot that just cleared the far post.
Birmingham and Oatway replaced Greenfield and Wood after the break.
And on 49 minutes, good work from Castles and Bogard won the Rocks a corner but unfortunately nothing came from the set-piece.
Seconds later, Oatway took a long shot from 30 yards out – the keeper getting down well to his right to push the ball away.
Bognor’s goal was scored on 73 minutes when a neat through ball from Ide was played into Jason Prior who turned and square passed it neatly to the waiting OATWAY who managed to slot the ball under Scriven in the Sutton goal.
The Rocks tried everything to get the equaliser but just could not manage it.
Bognor --: Pernecky, Crane, Clark, Oatway, Bond, Demetriou, Tucknott, Wood, Prior, Bogard, Castles.
Subs--: Ender, Greenfield, Norgate, Smith, Franks.
Reproduced with thanks to the Sports Mail and the Observer.
www.thenews.co.uk and www.bognor.co.uk
