Eastbourne United's rollercoaster rumbles on

On Saturday it was touch and go for a little while, but the Polegrove at Bexhill eventually passed an inspection, and the long studs were put in for a festival of mud.

To the immense credit of both teams, a pulsating game of football ensued, Bexhill never surrendering, and despite the result giving a very good account of themselves.

It was the shape of things to come when Jack Samways hit the upright with barely two minutes on the clock for EUFC. Charlie Ball and Arthur Grout also had chances before Grout was given the ball for a free kick outside the box. Despite his youth, there were no signs of nerves as he smashed it past keeper Alex Hobden with only nine minutes gone.

Samways nearly doubled the lead a few moments later, but his shot took a deflection straight into the keeper’s arms. Grout and Walsh both had shots saved before Ball popped up for his 14th of the season to make it 2-0 at the break.

Bexhill had a renewed vigour after the break and got one back just after 50 minutes.

Mason Creese joined the fray from the bench as Sonny Walsh made way and Broadbent made a good save to keep it at 2-1.

Rhyle Ovenden spoke out of turn and was sin-binned, while Max Thompson replaced Samways. Charlie Ball had a shot well saved by Hobden, before an outstanding save from the Bexhill keeper denied Creese.

Ollie Hull saw red for Bexhill as he inexplicably attacked Ryan Welch and the 10 men felt the pressure. Nathan Crabb replaced Samways Scott, before Max Thompson took matters into his own hands with a blistering shot that even Hobden couldn't get near.

In midweek, a crowd of over 200 assembled at the Oval Arena for the visit of Crawley Down Gatwick, both clubs on the cusp of the play-off spots, on a bitterly cold evening.

Crawley had the better of the early exchanges without really threatening the United goal, and Walsh had an early attempt saved before Crawley took advantage of some half-hearted defending to make it 1-0.

Almost immediately Alfie Headland hit the post with a header, Charlie Ball also forcing the Crawley keeper into a save.

With 20 minutes on the clock, Oli Leslie was out wide and United did not see a threat before he unleashed an unstoppable drive from the right, and it was 0-2 at half-time.

After the break United came back with more vigour, threatening the Crawley goal without ever looking like making that decisive breakthrough. It was a pretty even second half until with 20 minutes left Crawley made it 3-0, and that was effectively that.

United move on to Midhurst on Saturday.