Bexhill celebrate rare away win

Whilst traditionally strong at their Polegrove base, Bexhill haven't enjoyed the best of fortunes away from home over the past 14 months or so.

They won precious few Sussex Division Three matches on the road last season and, prior to Saturday, had yet to triumph from four attempts this time around.

So it's all the more baffling that the quaint village of Bosham, the lengthiest journey of them all down near the Hampshire border, should provide the cure for their travel sickness.

Bexhill won 3-0 there last year and came away with an almost as emphatic success on Saturday against a side sitting pretty in the top three of the table.

"That was a good win," said hugely-satisfied manager Billy Trivett. "The Newhaven game (their first victory of the season following three successive defeats four weeks ago) was a crucial game for us but to get your first away win is really good. We played a good side so it was by no means easy but we played good football and deserved the win."

Central to the win were the central-midfield pair of McPherson & Partners man of the match Darren Witham and Mark Funnell. With Funnell's fight perfectly complementing Witham's wizardry, the duo took the game by the scruff of the neck and made sure of an eventually comfortable three points despite falling behind.

Bexhill were caught in possession on the edge of their own penalty box and Tyler placed a firm drive past Mark Carey in the 10th minute.

United "didn't panic", though, and gradually the tide began to turn in their favour. Dave Carey dragged them back on terms with another from his veritable conveyer belt of right place, right time strikes in the 27th minute. And, after Wes Tate had been denied by a scarcely credible save, Funnell picked out the net after 41 minutes with a trademark goal of his own, winning the aerial battle in a congested goalmouth.

The visitors "just carried on the same tempo" during the second half and confirmed their victory when Carey, now the division's top goalscorer, pitched up with a 63rd minute third - his seventh strike in six games.