Bexhill United’s interest in the FA Cup ended at the first hurdle following a 3-0 extra preliminary round defeat to East Grinstead.
Due to the sharing of the Polegrove with Bexhill Cricket Club, the Pirates had no choice but to shift their home draw to their opponent’s ground some distance up the A22 to East Grinstead.
On arrival the Pirates contingent were surprised to see something we didn’t think existed in southern England any more – green grass.
This was all down to the fact that the club have their own water supply via a bore hole and a sophisticated system of pop up sprinklers that wouldn’t look out of place in the Premier League. It was a rare treat after being confronted with rock-hard, dusty ground where the grass has been burnt to brown in the long hot summer.
Jay Skinner-Swain drafted Charlie Playford and Callum Brand into a starting line-up that has been pretty much stable since the start of the season. East Grinstead are still licking their wounds after last season’s relegation but are a physically strong and experienced outfit. Both sides lined up ready to battle it out in the most famous domestic cup competition in the world.
The one thing you don’t want to do in an all-or-nothing game is concede an early goal – and that’s what Bexhill did when a decent save from Finn Holter only pushed the ball out wide where the East Grinstead lad picked it up and crossed for Kieron Parment to finish comfortably.
Bexhill were finding it hard to get their pressing game going in the heat against well organised opposition. On 20 minutes the Pirates carved out their first clear chance when Playford found himself in space in the box but headed over. Minutes later the Wasps made it two when a catastrophic cock-up at the back gifted a chance to Dan Perry who couldn’t believe his luck.
On the half-hour Max Hollobone almost halved the arrears when his effort from out wide crashed back off the bar. Just before the break, Marsden in the East Grinstead goal failed to deal with a cross and Playford getting in behind just couldn’t find the target from a tight angle. A goal at that point would have changed the complexion of the contest.
Second half and the next goal would be crucial at 2-0 but it was East Grinstead who tightened their grip. On the hour Parment got on the end of a well weighted cross after The Wasps barrelled their way down the left flank for 3-0 and the game was done.
There were a few further chances half-chances at both ends but the game ran out of steam in the heat and the Wasps comfortably saw the match out to cruise into the next round.
Bexhill now turn their attention to the FA Vase and another opportunity to make some headway in a national competition. This weekend’s game against famous old amateur club Erith and Belvedere has been switched to Welling’s Park View ground and will be played on Sunday with a 3pm kick-off.
