Bexhill battered at high-flying Horsham YM
After two solid away wins, and with just two games left in their Southern Combination season, Bexhill made the trip up the A23 to Horsham YM on Saturday – but it proved a tough afternoon.
Their hosts have had a magnificent season which has seen them already make it into the play-off berths and now they were battling for status in the shootout for promotion.
YM have developed a productive relationship with Bromley FC, a club now elevated from non-league to the heights of League One, and their Sussex partners have a fighting chance of climbing themselves.
In the opening five minutes of this match it was Bexhill who had the upper hand and, but for some last ditch defending and blocking on the line, the Pirates could have taken an early lead.
It seemed to kick-start Horsham YM into life and in a blistering period of play they effectively killed off the game.
Finn Holter in the Bexhill goal pulled off a cracking save from a free kick on ten minutes but it was only a brief respite. Moments later Horsham YM had opened the scoring and in an eight minute blitz they ripped the Pirates apart and established a 3-0 lead.
Bexhill may have been shell-shocked but on 23 minutes Jack Shonk stepped up and planted a 25-yard, trademark free kick bang into the top corner. It would prove to be the goal of the match but would it be enough to pump-prime one of Bexhill’s legendary comebacks?
No, it wouldn’t. On 35 minutes Horsham notched a fourth goal far too easily and the game was done as a meaningful contest.
In the second half Theo Coombs came on from the Bexhill bench and injected some much-needed energy, giving Horsham YM something to think about.
But it was the home side who racked up a couple more goals to see out an easy win by 6-1 that will give them some real momentum going into the play-offs.
Bexhill have one last fixture, a home game against Pagham that will be played at Hastings’ Pilot Field at 2pm on Saturday.