Bexhill relishing FA Cup debut

United will make their debut in the world famous competition with an extra preliminary round tie against Loxwood tomorrow (Saturday).

Bexhill were drawn at home, but with The Polegrove currently in the hands of fellow ground user Bexhill Cricket Club, the tie will instead be played at Eastbourne United AFC. Kick-off is 3pm.

“It’s going to be massive for the club and the town really,” said Bexhill manager Marc Munday. “We’ve never been in the competition and I feel privileged to be in it.

“It’s the one that you want to be involved in. The FA Cup’s the biggest thing you can play in for our boys and it’s something we’re really looking forward to.”

Bexhill have had a mixed start to the Macron Store Southern Combination Football League Division One season over the past week, recovering from a 7-2 defeat at Oakwood on Saturday by winning 1-0 away to Seaford Town on Tuesday night.

Loxwood have also won one and lost one of their first two matches in the Premier Division.

“It’s going to be a completely different situation to the two sides we’ve played so far,” continued Munday. “It’s quite nice being underdogs and you can always rise to the occasion.

“The surface will probably suit us a bit more than them. I expect them to have a lot of the football, but we’re a good, solid unit, and if we keep it tight at the back and maybe get them a bit agitated, you never know what will happen. If we can get through that game it would be a great result.”

Andy Atkin may feature after signing during the week and Munday hopes to have at least one more new face on board. Andy Garman should return from injury, but Anthony Cooper is away.

Supporters travelling to the game are advised to allow plenty of time for their journeys as the roads in and around Eastbourne are likely to be heavily congested with Airbourne taking place at the same time.

Little Common player-manager Russell Eldridge, meanwhile, will be demanding a positive reaction following a poor start to the season.

Common go to fellow Division One side Haywards Heath Town in round one of the Peter Bentley Challenge Cup tomorrow still smarting from a 5-2 loss away to Crawley Down Gatwick last weekend.

“I’ll be looking for big improvements this week and over the coming weeks, and if not there will be changes,” he said.

“It’s a cup match so I guess there’s a little bit less pressure in terms of points up for grabs, but I’ll be looking for a reaction in terms of attitude and performance.

“We want to do well in the cups, and we’ll be going there to try and win the game. The most important thing is to put on a better performance than we did last week.”

Steve Mote and Charlie Bachellier are battling to shake off injuries, but Jared Lusted and Martin Denny should return.

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