Bexhill hit back to earn away victory

Bexhill United forward David Pugh holds off a Billingshurst opponent. Pictures courtesy Mark KillyBexhill United forward David Pugh holds off a Billingshurst opponent. Pictures courtesy Mark Killy
Bexhill United forward David Pugh holds off a Billingshurst opponent. Pictures courtesy Mark Killy

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Bexhill United's footballers made it back-to-back wins with a come-from-behind 2-1 victory away to Billingshurst on Saturday.

Strikes by Connor Robertson and Drew Greenall gave Bexhill the points in a Macron Store Southern Combination Football League Division One fixture where all the goals came during the first half.

Bexhill joint manager Nigel Kane said: “It was a good win; very much needed as well. I would say we were good value for the win, but there wasn’t a lot in the game and I thought their performance belied their position in the league.”

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Facing a Billingshurst side lying fourth-from-bottom of the table, Bexhill stuck with the new 3-5-2 formation which had served them well in the previous weekend’s 5-0 thrashing of Selsey.

But it was Billingshurst who drew first blood. Kane felt Bexhill ought to have defended a ball into their box better than they did and Bright Temba, who Kane knows well from their time together at Hastings United, scored with a good finish from quite a tight angle.

On the whole, though, Light felt that central defender Craig McFarlane dealt well with the threat of Temba and was pleased with how his team defended, restricting Billingshurst to relatively few chances.

Bexhill responded well to falling behind and Connor Robertson equalised with a glancing header into the bottom corner from a Craig Ottley free kick.

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The visitors then took the lead when a good ball was played through to Drew Greenall, who finished the chance very well.

Ashley Kidman gets up above Billingshurst's former Hastings United striker Bright Temba.Ashley Kidman gets up above Billingshurst's former Hastings United striker Bright Temba.
Ashley Kidman gets up above Billingshurst's former Hastings United striker Bright Temba.

Bexhill were whiskers away from a third goal during the first half as Ottley struck the post direct from a free kick and Bexhill were unable to turn home the rebound.

David Pugh came off as a precaution with a slightly twisted ankle early in the second half so Bexhill reverted to a more familiar 4-5-1 formation.

Bexhill had two decent opportunities to add to their tally during the second 45 minutes. Georges Gouet skewed a shot wide from eight or nine yards and the in-form Gordon Cuddington, who scored eight goals in Bexhill’s previous six fixtures, missed when you would’ve backed him to score.

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It was a bit of a battle towards the end and Billingshurst had a very presentable chance to equalise, but Temba headed over when it looked easier to score.

Ashley Kidman gets up above Billingshurst's former Hastings United striker Bright Temba.Ashley Kidman gets up above Billingshurst's former Hastings United striker Bright Temba.
Ashley Kidman gets up above Billingshurst's former Hastings United striker Bright Temba.

“I think that was the sort of game we were losing over the winter period,” added Kane. “It’s important that we learn to manage games properly and we did that.”

The result completed Bexhill’s third league ‘double’ of the season.

Bexhill: Rose; Robertson, McFarlane, Kidman; Gouet, Lopez, Holden, Cuddington, Ottley; Greenall, Pugh (Wheeler). Subs not used: Sully, Butchers.

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