Bexhill bow out of Peter Bentley Cup as Eastbourne United’s first half power blows them away
After a successful run of league games it was back to Peter Bentley Cup action for Bexhill United at the Polegrove on Tuesday night and the opposition couldn’t have come much tougher - the old enemy, high-flying Eastbourne United ,who had made the short trip along the coast.
A change in the weather had set the scene for one of those classic Polegrove nights - a fine mist of persistent rain was swirling around the lights as the coastal wind whipped across the park.
In the opening exchanges United had got their attacking game going from the off but it was Bexhill who had a couple of golden opportunities to nail the first score just five minutes in.
First up Theo Coombs broke through but blazed his shot wide and just moments later Jack Shonk got a first sniff of goal but saw his effort just clear the bar. Throw in a good save from United keeper Alieu Secka and this was a period of play which Bexhill really should have capitalised on.
Eastbourne seemed to recognise this and attacks from the men in yellow shirts came in waves. Their style is to move forward in numbers and then drive the ball into the box as soon as possible.
Against a formidable front line it was a credit to the Bexhill defence that United didn’t create a clear chance until the 25th minute. James Stone was proving a handful as expected and on 29 he drew a sharp save from Finn Holter but it was a brief respite as a minute later he opened the scoring with a sharp chance drilled into the bottom corner from an angle.
It was a blow to Bexhill but worse was to come on 33 minutes when Callum Barlow was adjudged to have been brought down in the box. Barlow himself took the penalty and despite Holter getting a hand on it the ball slid in just the right side of the post.
Bexhill kept going and after 40 minutes a good through ball from Charlie Playford forced a rash challenge just outside the box and the resulting free kick from Shonk clipped the edge of the Eastbourne wall. On 44 minutes Secka was called upon to make another decent save as the Pirates strove to haul themselves back in the game.
Probably the most decisive moment of the game came just before the break. Overy got his cross in a bit too easily and Barlow nodded the chance home. Three nil at half time may have been harsh on Bexhill and it gave them a mountain to climb in the second period.
If Pirates boss Jay Skinner-Swain demanded a reaction he certainly got it. Bexhill came out with no intention of folding and were playing for pride now. With Ryan Moir finding more of the ball the Pirates were making good progress down the left flank as they got stuck into the battle.
At the other end Barlow, in search of his hat trick, was thwarted by a magnificent save from Holter. As the ball surged back and forth a Moir cross was shanked by the defender just wide of the post. Bexhill kept coming and on 63 minutes it was Shonk who gave the home fans some hope with a precision finish clawing a goal back.
Maybe Bexhill needed a bit of the rub of green to make for an exciting ending to the game. On 70 minutes Theo Coombs had a shot blocked and as Moir hooked the rebound towards the goal it was cleared off the line by Sam Cooper. That was the moment the Pirates probably knew there would be no great escape.
Bexhill never gave up the fight and their battling second half display was a credit to the football club but it’s United who head into the next round. Now it’s back to league action for the Pirates and a chance to keep their play-off challenge on track.