A stunning strike from Richard Scott sent City soaring to their highest league position for 20 years as they overcame battling Bognor on a bitter afternoon at Milton Road.

Unsurprisingly, after Tuesday’s convincing 3-0 victory at Sutton Gary Roberts named an unchanged starting line-up with teenage centre back Brady Stone continuing to deputise for the injured Glen Fuff and Alex Fiddes preferred to Rob Miller in midfield. Still feeling their way back to full fitness Richard Scott and Jon Stevenson both made the bench.

Bognor’s fine start to the season ground to a halt with a 6-0 thumping at Grays in mid-November, the first in a sequence of 10 winless games coming into this afternoon’s fixture. Without a midweek game they were last in action on the previous Saturday going down 1-0 at home to Dorchester, prompting Jack Pearce into two changes; Kevin Murphy and Dan Beck making way for Adam Mountford and Jamie Howell respectively.

Robbie Simpson flicks the ball beyond Bognor's David Piper

City started the game at a tempo only to be expected from a team who’ve recorded four straight wins scoring 15 goals in the process and for the opening five minutes the Rocks were very much on the ropes. The pressure culminated in Dale Binns firing narrowly wide from Carl Williams’ lay off.

Having softened up the visitors the Lilywhites really should have capitalised moments later when a superb combination between Craig Pope and Robbie Simpson created space for Carl Williams to cross but Josh Simpson scorned a golden chance to seize the early initiative.

From then on Bognor contained the City attack more convincingly although the home side’s superior quality in midfield ensured they had the lions’ share of the possession. More than twenty minutes had passed before the Lilywhites threatened again this time good individual skill by Dale Binns allowed him to float a perfectly weighted centre across the face goal but Carl Williams was unable to steady himself sufficiently to supply a finish.

This seemed to prompt the visitors into life and they gave City an anxious moment as play switched to the other end, Matt Langston’s cushioned header back to Duncan Roberts was marginally under hit allowing Luke Nightingale to steal in but his poked effort cannoned off the body of the giant ‘keeper who stood up well.

Craig Pope, continuing in the rich vein of form he has enjoyed since his return from suspension then freed Alex Fiddes with a well judged through ball which created a crossing opportunity fro Robbie Simpson on the City right, the teenager drilled his centre into the feet of Matt Robinson but the former Ipswich youngster could only force the ball wide from a tight angle.

Bognor’s occasional breaks were neatly constructed and the best of their play was orchestrated by Richard Hudson wide on the right. With the game just short of half an hour old his penetrating cross had Brady Stone at full stretch with Michael Birmingham in close attendance but whilst the former Portsmouth midfielder was first to react to the loose ball the imposing Roberts was again on hand to ward off the danger.

A good combination between Matt Robinson and Robbie Simpson saw the twelve-goal striker felled on the edge of the box by Guy Rutherford. In the absence of Richard Scott and Jon Stevenson the dead ball duty fell to Robinson who curled a decent effort narrowly wide of Craig Stoner’s right hand post.

Josh Simpson breaks clear of Michael Birmingham

More good work by Hudson on the right gave Ben Watson a sniff of goal but Stone and Roberts again combined to stifle the opening. Moments later the same player delivered an even better centre, this time finding Luke Nightingale with space on the right of the City box but when there seemed room to get a first time shot off the former Weymouth striker elected to square to Darren Budd and Matt Langston was able to clear up.

City failed to extend the visitors for the remainder of the half although Alex Fiddes athletically controlled a Dale Binns centre only to be bundled of the ball by Stoner.

That was to be Binns’ last meaningful contribution to proceedings as he made way for Richard Scott at the interval, the player-coach coming into central midfield to partner Fiddes with Josh Simpson switching to the left.

Bognor never really got to grips with Craig Pope as an attacking threat and it was the cultured right back who was at heart of City’s first attack of the half, freeing Robbie Simpson on the right who played the ball inside to namesake Josh, the Academy midfielder only inches away from opening the scoring.

With the hour mark rapidly approaching City made the crucial breakthrough with a goal of the highest quality. Robbie Simpson switched to the left and played a neat ball into the feet of Matt Robinson, anticipating a lunging challenge Robinson in turn, slipped a first time pass inside to Richard Scott who found himself in space some 25 yards from goal, within a split second the former Peterborough midfielder had dispatched a right footed pile driver into the top corner of Craig Stoner’s net, a shot hit with such pace that the ‘keeper was unable to make any attempt at a save.

This was the lift that City needed and they concentrated all their efforts into putting the game beyond reach with a second. Playing with a maturity way beyond his years Josh Simpson slid a sublime through ball into the path of Alex Fiddes who had made an excellent blindside run into the box through the inside right channel, showing great strength to hold off a buffeting challenge the former Redbridge midfielder unleashed a fierce drive but Stoner was off his line well and made a fine save at the expense of a corner, Brady Stone narrowly off target with a header from Matt Robinson’s resultant place kick.

Alex Fiddes shapes to shoot

Bognor attempted to force their way back but Birmingham’s shot from distance typified the difficulty they were having in getting any change out of the resolute City back line. At 1-0 however the Lilywhites were by no means home and dry and with a little over a quarter of an hour remaining Darren Budd span off Lee Chaffey and found Ben Watson on the edge of the box, seeing the smallest of gaps between Duncan Roberts and his far post the Brighton loanee hit a low, goal bound drive that forced the former Oldham ‘keeper into an excellent one handed save down to his right.

City’s best way through the Rocks’ rearguard still appeared to be down the right flank and they profited in this area again when Pope centred for Robinson whose lay off fell invitingly for Robbie Simpson only for Rutherford to complete a timely block.

A couple of lengthy injury hold-ups saw the game spill over into several added minutes, during which time City could have consolidated their lead, and at the same time surrendered it. Firstly more persistence by Robbie Simpson won a challenge some thirty yards out the ball bounced up for Alex Fiddes whose longe range lob dipped narrowly over the crossbar with Stoner looking on anxiously.

Then with the Lilywhites looking to eat up the seconds by knocking the ball long down the channels Carl Williams sent the ever willing (Robbie) Simpson off on another chase down into the right hand corner off the pitch. However, finding another burst of energy, the striker beat Adam Mountford cut inside and sent a stinging drive into Stoner’s near post which the former Portsmouth ‘keeper was forced to parry behind at full stretch.

With some five minutes of added time played there was almost a twist in the tale. Lee Chaffey, already booked elected to stand a yard off Richard Hudson on the City left, seeing this as his last chance to salvage a point for his team the former Lewes’ wide man struck a venomous cross-shot which forced Duncan Roberts into a spectacular tip-over to preserve the lead and secure the victory.

Although Grays’ lead seems insurmountable City’s current form suggests they are more than capable of maintaining a top-five place for the remainder of the season. Currently playing without either Dave Sadler or Jon Stevenson, who have netted 24 goals between them, defensive lynch-pin Glen Fuff and with playmaker Richard Scott not yet firing on all cylinders the younger players who have come into cover have shown there is the genuine strength in depth at the club to maintain the momentum.