Bexhill United claimed a 3-2 SCFL premier division victory at Wick despite playing with ten men from 38 minutes onwards.
After the weather played havoc with the New Year fixtures, a window in the relentless rain, snow and frost meant that Wick got their game against Bexhill on without any problems. The pitch looked a picture in the weak January sunshine.
Pirates gaffer Jay Skinner-Swain made some enforced changes to his defensive lines with Ash Latuske making a return from a long lay-off to slot in at right-back and Callum Brand also drafted in to the centre alongside Dale Penn.
Ryan Moir was back in the starting line-up out wide on the left.
Bexhill, kicking up the slope at Crabtree Lane, started brightly. On ten minutes they came close to opening the scoring when some fine play by Moir opened up a chance for Charlie Playford, who saw his effort bounce back off a post.
Three minutes later Wick opened the scoring with Teddie Stairs finding space to finish sharply.
United responded instantly as Andy Corrigan on the left picked out Charlie Playford with a fine pass and the midfielder squared it to Theo Coombs to level for the Pirates.
It was a proper old ding dong of a game now and Ryan Moir was back to his best, causing havoc with the ball at his feet.
On 28 minutes, he whipped in a cross that the keeper could only punch out to the edge of the box, where Jack Shonk was on hand to lift it back over the goalie and into the net – his 148th goal for Bexhill United.
Bexhill were on the wrong end of a controversial decision on 38 minutes when Charlie Playford was shown a straight red for a high boot in a fifty-fifty challenge. The ref waved away the Pirates’ protests.
Any chance of protecting the lead and getting into half-time for the chance to regroup while still in front were dashed when Wick scored through Danny Howick just before the break.
Bexhill knew that they would be in for a stern test now as Wick had their tails up but there was no sign as the game got back underway that the team would sit in and try and cling on for a point. They were going to go toe to toe for the win.
Whilst the Bexhill box was bombarded with wave after wave of attacks, the lads stood strong with Penn marshalling the troops and throwing himself in front of everything that was slung his way.
The covering work in the middle by Kyle Holden was Herculean in its effort as the whole team united to cover for the gap in the ranks.
At the Crabtree End, Bexhill themselves were making good attacking progress down the flanks, giving the Wick defence plenty to think about.
As time ticked by it was incredible that there hadn’t been any further score but on 70 minutes Bexhill put that right. Max Hollobone swung in another fine corner and it eluded everyone apart from Brand at the far post, who crashed the ball into the net on the volley in front of the Pirates travelling fans.
It was a beauty of a finish but hanging on for the points would mean digging even deeper into the reserves.
With bundles of added time for a succession of injuries and delays, it would be gone 5pm before the ref finally blew the whistle and the Bexhill supporters could breathe again.
It was a great game of football and an important win for Bexhill after a couple of disappointing performances over Christmas.
It leaves the Pirates ninth in the league and back on track for a push towards the play-off positions. Next Saturday sees them travel to Eastbourne United for the always eagerly anticipated local derby at the Oval. Kick off 3pm.
