Bognor Regis Town beaten in lively Sussex derby at Whitehawk

Bognor got the first opportunity inside the first minute as Ben Anderson played it onto Dan Smith but he steered his long range effort over the bar. A back pass was picked up by Mitch Walker and the referee awarded a free-kick. Jasper Mather took it but hit the defensive wall and it bounced out.A corner saw the ball played square to Lucas Pattenden who sped inside, but his ball in was cut short after a foul was committed on a Whitehawk player in their area.Pattenden was on the run from Dan Gifford's swift pass down the right and was brought down. Calvin Davies curled the ball well into the area and it was Danny Howick unmarked on the back post who diverted it in on 11 minutes – 1-0 Bognor.Bognor were on the attack down the slope and got the ball back to Anderson and his chance from distance was hit off a defender. The following cross was swung in by Davies but Kieran Douglas headed it over.A simple goal saw Whitehawk take the equaliser when Imran Kayani was set through one on one with Hall before smashing it low into the net on 18 minutes.Pattenden pounced down the right seconds later and Walker dived to try to block his advance and missed the ball but Pattenden went down. He went into the book for simulation on 19 minutes.Smith was bundled over near the touchline and then Davies swung in another cross but the defender dug out a clearance.Whitehawk took a 2-1 lead when Jack Dixon got the ball after a swift cross from the right and twisting and turning he eventually got the ball onto his left foot before unleashing a fierce strike into the net on 26 minutes.Reuben Livesy-Austin did well to find Anderson inside the field before he picked out Smith with his run, but after cutting inside he unleashed another effort right footed over the crossbar. Pattenden teed up Mather, who won a corner. Davies swung in another cross but Smith missed the cross in the air.A good move ended for Bognor as Davies found Livesey-Austin who won a corner. Davies swung in the sixth corner of the half and it was headed away at the near post. It fell to Pattenden who bashed it at goal from distance but it sailed straight at Walker.Howick was back to defend a swift cross from the right down the other end as a Whitehawk man went down requiring treatment.Another cross from the right picked out Charlie Lambert as he rose highest to head it into an empty net with Hall stranded on 39 minutes, extending the Hawks lead to 3-1.Whitehawk hit the side netting with a chance before Davies, down the other end, had a shot bouncing awkwardly in front of Walker saved by the host's shot-stopper, pushing the ball away. Another Davies corner to the back post was met in the air by Douglas but again Whitehawk were back on the line to clear it.Gifford on the turn was clearly impeded by Luca Cocorrachio on the halfway line and he went into the book just before half time. HT 3-1A half time substitution saw Smith replaced by Dorking Wanderers loanee Alfie Rutherford. Charlie Walker's effort for the Hawks was deflected wide but the short corner was dealt with it.Gifford combined with Mather before letting fly with a strike from 25 yards out. Jimmy Muitt then replaced Mather for Bognor's second change on 52 minutes.Bognor won a penalty following a free-kick into the area by Davies. Howick rose highest on the back post to head the ball back into the area and the ball was handled. A penalty was awarded straight away. Up stepped Gifford who made no mistake smashing it high into the net inside the top left corner on 55 minutes.A nice move saw Rutherford run forward and he passed onto Pattenden and he picked out Harvey Whyte but his cross went straight out of play. Then another cross by Whyte went straight to Walker in the Hawks goal.Worrall's corner was flapped at by Hall and it bounced out to Joel Daly but he diverted it over the bar on the follow up. Anderson came off for Tommy-Lee Higgs on 79 minutes in Bognor's final change, looking for an equaliser.Bognor had a good chance as Muitt crossed it looking for Rutherford but the defender kicked it straight out to Gifford who had a go from distance, but his chance was hit high over the crossbar.Davies was caught in possession and then Whyte gave away a silly freekick just outside the box. Worrall whipped the freekick directly at goal but Hall pushed it away nearing the end of the game. Davies gave away a free-kick just 25 yards out. Daly hit it but this time it was hit way over the crossbar.Gifford went into the book for a late challenge as Bognor lost possession in their own attack and then Worrall picked up a yellow card as well as the time ticked by and time wasting was becoming a problem.A long throw by Muitt was nodded on and Howick miscued his strike completely and then the ball fell to Whyte from distance and it was a good save from Walker. The referee blew the whistle straight after this last chance as Bognor couldn't find the equaliser right at the death.A disappointing game for the Rocks ended in the pouring rain at the Enclosed Ground. The Rocks return to FA Trophy action as they welcome Southern League premier south side Gosport Borough to the MKM Arena on Saturday.Rocks: Hall, Whyte, Livesy-Austin, Davies (c), Douglas, Howick, Pattenden, Anderson (Higgs 79), Smith (Rutherford 45), Gifford, Mather (Muitt 52). Subs not used: Burgess, Briffa