Tanners triumph – and the Rocks’ hopes are fading fast
Rocks Leatherhead Bostik premier
Leatherhead made Bognor look ordinary in a convincing four-goal victory at Nyewood Lane which all but ended the Rocks’ play-off hopes.
It left Bognor tenth and eight points off fifth place with six games left – and they have not won in their past six.
There were debuts for new recruits Reece Mylesmeekums and Ashton Leigh but Dan Lincoln was still not quite fit to play.
A long free-kick by Craig Mcgee was well gathered by Rocks goalkeeper Petar Durin inside the first minute.
Mason Walsh won a free-kick on the left but Theo Widdrington’s ball in was gathered by Zaki Oualah.
Ibrahim Olutade had the first strike but it went wide.
Durin saved from Daniel Gallagher low to his left.
Myles-meekums ran on to a Widdrington pass, but his shot was blocked by a defender. Gallagher won a corner and Travis Gregory’s kick was palmed away by Durin.
Myles-meekums’ cross was beyond Brad Lethbridge.
Durin spilled Oualah’s long ball and Olutade’s low attempt was blocked on the line. Jack Skinner was causing Bognor problems on the right but his crossing was inconsistent.
Leigh went into the back of Skinner near halfway and the free-kick led to Olutade knocking it down before Skinner’s shot from the edge of the box flew low into the net on 23 minutes.
Widdrington’s cross fell to Lethbridge who hit it on the volley on 26 minutes but it came off the underside of the bar – before Walsh’s scissor kick flew high and wide.
Skinner beat Leigh on the right before finding an unmarked Gallagher, who struck a deflected shot wide. Lethbridge teed up Tommy Scutt but his shot rolled wide.
Harvey Whyte ran on to a Doug Tuck pass but smacked his shot over. Mylesmeekums combined with Lethbridge but his shot was high. Izunna Ikebuasi did well on the right but Gallagher shot wide.
Leatherhead went 2-0 up before the break when Charlie Hester-cook hit a low shot beyond Durin.
After the break Leigh’s cross was cut out by Oualah.
Myles-meekums cut inside from the right before firing low at goal but it was pushed around the post by Oualah.
Richard Gilot replaced Widdrington on 61 minutes.
Jerry Nnanimi headed wide when unmarked in the box, then Skinner shot from long distance – it went along the deck but wide.
Walsh smashed one high and wide as the Rocks looked for a way back that was never to come.
Leatherhead made it 3-0 on the counter when Wood slipped up to allow Olutade in and he knocked it beyond Durin on 77 minutes.
It got worse for Bognor three minutes from the end when Gregory, a thorn in the Rocks side all game, cut inside and belted the ball low under Durin to end another forgettable game at home for the Rocks and their fans. Bognor: Durin, Whyte, Leigh, Tuck, Field (Sanders 75), Wood, Myles-meekum, Widdrington (Gilot 61), Lethbridge, Scutt (Maloney 71), Walsh. Subs not used: Mccormick, Lincoln.