Bexhill season ends in heavy defeat

A Sussex Division Two campaign which started full of hope following their promotion last year came to a close with a 5-1 defeat at Westfield.

The Polegrove side prop up the table by 17 points having conceded a whopping 109 goals.

"I'm just glad it's over," confessed manager Gerard Moyse, who has endured a thankless task since taking over around the time of a mass exodus of players at the end of November. "I didn't expect it to be as much of a struggle as it has been, but I've just got to look forward to next year and make sure I get a few players."

This year ended with the concession of five goals - three of which were penalties - during the final 25 minutes to just about sum up how things have gone over the past eight months.

"They're not fit enough," Moyse commented. "We're losing games in the last 20 minutes every week, but I think some of the referee's decisions were a bit harsh. One of them was definitely a penalty, but there was no way there were three penalties."

Jason Wall could probably consider himself a touch unfortunate to be penalised for handball for the first spot kick and Ian May perhaps likewise after challenging Mark Drinkwater for the last one.

There was no argument about the second, though, Gary Hempe blatantly impeding Danny Pepper as he sought to tap home leaving referee Gary Croft with no option under the letter of the law but to brandish a red card.

"I know he had to (send Hempe off) under the law," added Moyse, "but it was two minutes from the end of the season and sometimes I think you can show a little bit of leniency."

Duncan Jones converted all three kicks from 12 yards (78, 91, 94) after putting fourth-placed Westfield in front from open play in the 76th minute.

Dominic Clarke levelled for Westfield, who fashioned 25 attempts at goal, in the 70th minute, only seconds after veteran substitute Vince Fuller had headed in Sam Brown's inch-perfect cross to give United a shock lead.

The highlight of a largely drab opening three-quarters to a game which had a bit of a Sunday morning feel to it was Jones striking a post early on.