Bexhill United bounced back from the shock 8-3 drubbing at Eastbourne United with a 6-0 hammering of Lancing in the SCFL premier.
Manager Jay Skinner-Swain had made it clear that he expected an immediate reaction from his players after the previous week’s loss but also showed his own intent by making major changes to the Pirates’ starting line-up for the home game on Saturday.
Toby Whiteside was given an opportunity to step up in goal and Mardy Ovenden, Charlie Scarles and Will Saunders were all given starts and a chance to take the fight to the opposition. Bexhill were also boosted by the return of skipper Richie Welch.
Ryan Moir was at it from the off, marauding down the left flank and it was his opening goal, picking up a great through ball from Theo Coombs, that showed exactly the kind of attacking intent that Skinner-Swain and the Pirates faithful had been hoping to see. Moir is well and truly back to the sort of blistering form that lit up Bexhill’s opening phase of the season.
Just minutes later it was Moir’s quick thinking that set up Will Saunders from a throw-in and the striker turned his defender inside out before somehow managing to squeeze his shot past the Lancing keeper.
Bexhill could possibly have had more in the first half as they pressed hard. At the back, Whiteside looked assured between the posts and Welch was stamping his authority on the defensive lines.
There was work to do as Lancing tried to break out and get a foothold back in the game but there was no real drama and the Pirates went in at half-time a well-deserved two goals to the good.
Bexhill effectively killed off the game as a contest immediately after the break. Coombs did exceptionally well to hold on to the ball out wide on the right, ride the challenges and cross into the box for Scarles to finish.
Bexhill kept coming and relentless pressure forced an error in the Lancing defence. It was Scarles again who was on hand to exploit the situation and notch his second and Bexhill’s fourth.
Any chance that Bexhill would ease off the gas was dispelled as they kept coming and when Max Hollobone whipped in a free-kick it was Callum Brand who rose above the Lancing defence to nod it home and make it five.
Bexhill sent on fresh legs from the bench with everyone given a chance to have a go and it was one of those subs, Jaan Stanley, who got on the end of a great ball from Dale Penn and unselfishly set up Scarles for his hat-trick just before the end.
It was a magnificent team performance from Bexhill in front of another 200-plus crowd and sets them up for a busy run of home games starting with a tough test against at the Polegrove this Wednesday (7.30 kick off).
