Bexhill United marked national Non-League Day with a 3-0 victory over visitors Wick.
The sun was shining but there was a sharp edge to the wind as Bexhill prepared for their SCFL clash with Wick at the Polegrove. That wind would come to play a part in the match ahead.
Both the Pirates and their opponents sit in the middle ranks of the Southern Combination as the season heads towards its final weeks.
Despite that, there was definitely plenty to play for as this would be Bexhill’s last game at their seafront HQ this term and, with a bumper crowd of 268 in through the gates, the team wanted to go out on a high.
The first half was definitely competitive and, with Wick having the wind advantage, there was plenty to keep the Bexhill defence busy.
However, Dale Penn and Callum Brand have formed a solid partnership in the middle, and although Finn Holter in goal saw plenty of action, there were no real dramas.
The stand out save of the half came at the other end of the park though when Belcher pulled off a stunner to deny Charlie Curran just after the half-hour. He had plenty of other work to take care of as Bexhill wound up the pressure but come the whistle the teams went in goalless.
Coming out for the second half, Bexhill had the wind behind them and were kicking towards their favoured Brockley Road end and immediately set out to tighten their grip.
It didn’t take long to break the deadlock. A minute in a corner was swung across and Brand nodded it down for Will Saunders to bang it in the net.
Bexhill were right at it now. Moir and Curran were finding more ball out on the left flank and through the centre, causing real problems for the Wick back four.
It seemed only a matter of time for the Pirates before more goals came and so it would prove although Wick kept battling.
On 70 minutes the visitors came as close as you like to levelling things up but were only denied by a moment of brilliance by Holter in the Bexhill goal, the keeper delivering a save right out of the top drawer.
The Pirates pretty much killed the game just minutes later when Moir latched onto a ball from Jack Shonk and calmly tucked his shot away. It was all Bexhill now.
On 80 minutes Max Hollobone, coming on as sub, picked up a ball on the right of the box and rammed a shot through a knot of players and into the goal on the half volley. Did it take a touch on the way in? It didn’t matter; it brought another Polegrove season to a close on a high.
Dale Penn was named man of the match and Charlie Playford picked up the player of the month award from the Pirates fans.
Importantly, £300 was raised for Bexhill’s Non-League Day partners, the Sussex Heart Charity, and their important work installing defibrillators. The club thanked the Wick players for their generous contribution.
Next Saturday, Bexhill make the trip to table-toppers Steyning, another chance to upset the apple cart, and on Easter Monday there’s the big local derby down at Little Common which should be tasty.
