Bexhill secured their second win from the first two league games of the season as they travelled to meet Seaford Town at Newhaven’s Fort Road ground on Tuesday night.
Jay Skinner-Swain started with the same line-up that had fought hard to bring back the three points from Billingshurst on Saturday with the exception of the returning Finn Holter, who was back between the posts for the Pirates.
Seaford had also recorded an opening-day victory on the road at the weekend with a fine 1-0 win at Lancing and both teams looked cagey as they sounded each other out in the opening exchanges. On the 20-minute mark it was Town who came close to breaking the deadlock.
Some good approach play pushed Bexhill back and Josh Wright unleashed a cracking drive which looked bound for the top corner until Holter pulled out a top drawer finger-tip save. Minutes later, Bexhill were reduced to ten men after Jack Mison was handed what looked to be harsh straight red for a clumsy rather than cynical challenge. There was no point wasting time arguing. The Pirates regrouped and got straight back on the front foot.
Sometimes a sending off can open a game up as the ten men reassess their options, and that is exactly what happened. Bexhill were suddenly more direct and were moving the ball up the field at pace. Just prior to the break they created their best chance of the half when some good interplay with Jack Shonk freed up Ryan Moir to line up a shot which just cleared the bar.
With the second half underway, Bexhill came out with real intent. Charlie Playford was introduced to the action and was immediately involved as both he and Shonk had efforts cleared from the goal line. Bexhill were in control of the game now but had to be patient to chalk up the opening goal.
On 65 minutes Harry Marchant saw a speculative effort from wide on the left bounce back off the bar. When the goal came on the 69th minute it was courtesy of a well struck free-kick from Tom Vickers which caused chaos in the box with the Seaford defender only able to turn it into his own net.
Five minutes later the game was done. Moir was tormenting the Town defence down the right flank and out of sheer frustration he was upended in the box. Shonk slammed the resultant penalty into the bottom corner.
Bexhill didn’t ease off the gas and kept pushing forwards, and although Seaford put some moves together themselves, the Pirates’ defence remained solid and the result was never in doubt. One final attack saw a well-struck Shonk free-kick pushed away by Toby Whiteside in the Seaford goal.
Kyle Holden was justly awarded POTM for a trade mark combative performance.
Skinner-Swain was understandably pleased with the result and his team’s start to the new SCFL campaign. He said: “Considering we had to play over two thirds of the game a man down, and yet still went for long periods dominating the play, that is a clear tribute to our squad and their attitude. We also showed our defensive qualities as a team with the opposition creating very few clear cut chances.
“These are the sort of performances everyone at the football club can get excited about. Becoming a more compact and stable unit is very much part of the blueprint of what we want to continue to build this season.”
Bexhill now look forward to an FA Cup clash with East Grinstead Town on Saturday which will be played at the opposition’s ground (3pm kick-off).
