Bexhill United bounced back to winning ways with a dominant second-half display in a 4-1 SCFL premier victory over visitors Crawley Down Gatwick.
The games come thick and fast at the Polegrove at the moment and despite three matches in eight days, and a shed load of rain, the pitch had held up fine and it was game on.
Significantly, both Charlie Playford and Kyle Holden were back for Bexhill to add some grit and energy to the line-up. As the sun also tried its best to make an appearance there were high hopes that the Pirates would be right back at it after a disappointing defeat against in-form Peacehaven in midweek.
The first 45 minutes passed with little or nothing of any significance to report. Both sides struggled to get any real passages of play together and neither keeper had much to really trouble them. When the whistle went for the break it was probably the highlight up to that point.
Bexhill have established a bit of a reputation for coming on strong in the second half and they seem to enjoy attacking the Brockley Road end in front of their hardcore supporters who congregate in front of the club house. And its bar.
It only took a few minutes for the Pirates to get back into their work with Andy Corrigan squaring a fine ball across the edge of the box which Charlie Playford latched onto and smashed home.
It really was the goal that Bexhill needed to settle things down and set them up for the rest of the match.
Just after the hour came the strike that would cement the contribution of a club legend into the Pirates history books long into the future.
Playford fed a ball out to Ryan Moir who bombed his way down the flank and set up a chance for Jack Shonk on a plate that he happily stuck away, notching his 150th goal for the club. Now it was party time.
Five minutes later it was Moir again, who by now was having a field day, racing down the left leaving the defence in his wake before setting Playford up for his second.
Crawley Down Gatwick gave the home side a reminder that they were still up for the fight soon after the restart when Harvey Burgess finished well from just inside the box to make it three one.
However, any hopes of a comeback and a photo finish were killed off when it was Moir again with his third assist of the afternoon, delivering for Theo Coombs to volley home at the far post.
It was a lovely parting shot from Coombs who is now away from the club for a couple of weeks, competing for the British Virgin Islands in the U17 World Cup qualifiers.
He will be missed but it will be an incredible experience and is a tribute to the youth development policy at Bexhill United. Everyone at the club is proud as punch of young Theo.
With the game wrapping up with a 4-1 win for Bexhill it sets things up nicely for the next piece of history at the Polegrove. The first overseas visitors, from Guernsey, arrive on Wednesday for the what looks like being a tasty challenge under the lights. Kick off 7.30pm.
