It just gets better and better for Bognor and it is all thanks to manager Jack Pearce's secret ingredient.

The Rocks out-fought, out-ran and out-passed previously unbeaten Hayes at Nyewood Lane to make it five wins out of seven in the Ryman League premier division this season.

It has been a dream start, even by Pearce's high standards, especially as it has been achieved by virtually the same side which gained promotion from division one south last season.

Bognor have proved they can cope with the faster pace of the higher division as well as keep their passing football intact to make the step-up look seamless.

Pearce puts the success down to his side's secret, although it does not take a brain surgeon to figure out what it is having seen how hard Bognor worked to earn the win against Hayes.

Pearce said: "Everyone recognises us as a passing team, but it is no good passing the ball if you don't work hard when you haven't got it. A lot of teams don't know how hard working we are and that's our little secret.

"To do well in this division every player needs to put in a hell of a lot of work and that is what we do."

One player who epitomises the work rate in the side is captain Michael Birmingham, who opened the scoring after 15 minutes with a superb strike.

The former Portsmouth professional picked the ball up midway into the Hayes half and was left to run unchallenged before firing a shot from the edge of the box into the bottom left hand corner.

Birmingham also attributes Rocks' good start to the season to the fitness of the players and paid tribute to the punishing pre-season Pearce inflicted on his side.

The Bognor boss enlisted the help of UC Chichester to put his players through their paces and Birmingham believes that has made all the difference.

He said: "We knew we had the technical ability to cope in this division, it was just the fitness work we had to work on.

"Jack phoned me up in the summer and we agreed we wouldn't get the balls out much during the pre-season and that we would just work on running.

"We owe a lot to the boys from Chichester College for helping us out.

"It was one of the hardest pre-seasons I have ever had, but it was also enjoyable and we are now showing how much it is paying off."

Hayes lost patience with the busy Birmingham when Lee Holsgrove, who was one of three Holsgrove brothers in the Hayes side, dived in two-footed on the Bognor midfielder, leaving the referee with no choice but to send him off.

By then Bognor were two up and cruising as Dan Beck had leapt brilliantly to power in a classic downward header after a good cross by substitute Louis Savage.

The goal capped a superb performance by the striker on a month's loan from Albion, who did well to fill the gap left by the absence of last season's top scorer Matt Russell.

Russell picked up a freak training ground ankle injury on Thursday and will be out for two weeks, but Pearce is hoping Beck will still be around then by trying to extend his loan deal for another month.

Pearce said: "Having Matt out is a blow, but if we score four goals every game then we can live with that.

"Dan Beck was excellent, I was very pleased with him and we will ask Brighton the question about him staying.

"I don't know if he is going to stay or not, but so far he has done us some good and hopefully we have done him some good."

Bognor wrapped up the win with two goals in the last five minutes thanks to two second half substitutes.

Savage beat the visitors' tired offside trap to latch on to a ball over the top and side-foot under advancing keeper Ben Harris.

Rupert Sansom marked his comeback after missing most of last season through injury with a neat finish two minutes from time.

The scoreline did justice to the Rocks' performance, but not every game will be so comfortable this season.

Bognor face tough trips to Aylesbury tomorrow and Kettering on Saturday, which will really test how well they have adapted to the premier division.

Pearce is confident his side can challenge any team this year, but is too experienced to get over excited just yet.

He said: "I am genuinely very pleased with the start we have made and that we are moving forward, but it is early days yet.

"There have only been seven games so far and unfortunately there are still another 39 to go."

Bognor: Stoner, Piper, D. Birmingham (sub Sargent 79), White, Price, Rowland, G. Rutherford (sub Sansom 71), M. Birmingham, Beck, Howell, Hudson (sub Savage 61). Subs not used: Foster, Stillman.

Hayes: Harris, Case, Everitt, Collins, Yeboah, Paul Holsgrove, L. Holsgrove, Molesey (sub Goodall 75), Peter Holsgrove, Hastings, Warner. Subs not used: Richards, Demitrious, O'Connor.

Referee: Mr J. Linington.

Attendance: 451
Man-of-the-match: Dan Beck (Bognor)