A brace from Polegrove debut maker Luke Donaldson saw Bexhill secure a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Horsham YM on Tuesday night.
The Pirates were facing the challenge of two games on the bounce having played Newhaven away on Sunday afternoon as part of the Sussex Ground Hop – a match which saw the Pirates run out 4-1 winners.
So, confidence and expectation was high Tuesday evening as they lined up to take on Horsham YM, a side who have struggled with problems on and off the pitch this term. But one thing is for sure in the current Southern Combination League – there is no such thing as an easy game.
Bexhill fans have waited a while to see Donaldson on home soil since his close-season signing as he fell foul of the injury hex that has dogged the Pirates over the past couple of months. The impressive Ant Thomas was also making his home debut at left-back.
The opening exchanges were tentative with both teams sizing each other up, but on 12 minutes Bexhill opened their account. Jack Shonk threaded a ball out to Jack Samways and he squared to set up Donaldson who make no mistake.
A couple of minutes later it was Shonk himself sizing up an opportunity but driving his shot wide. Bexhill went in at the break with that 1-0 advantage but as they returned after the interval it was Horsham YM who immediately shook the game up.
Barely a minute in they were able to carve their way through the home defence and striker Theo Aiguobasimwin smashed away a sharp finish.
It was a reminder to Bexhill that you can take nothing for granted in this league and for a brief spell Horsham enjoyed their best phase of the game.
The introduction of Theo Coombs from the bench was decisive in changing the dynamics of the contest and within moments he had helped set up a chance for Charlie Playford that rose just over the bar.
It felt like a second goal was coming and on 65 minutes Shonk broke clear and, one on one with the keeper, he squared the ball only to see the covering defender hack it away from danger.
Two minutes later, the goal came and it was a stunner. Playford hoisted an exquisite pass over the defence to Donaldson, who brought the ball down with a deft touch and, with his back to goal, in almost one movement managed to lift the ball over the YM keeper. It was a strike that will be long talked about at the Polegrove.
Bexhill kept the foot on the gas for the rest of the match in pursuit of a third that would enable them to relax a bit but it didn’t come and in the end they saw out the victory that lifts them to eighth in the table, well placed in the chasing pack at the top of the table.
