Bexhill slump to heavy home defeat

The Pirates conceded four second half goals to lose 5-1 against Southwick in Macron Store Southern Combination Football League Division One.

A consolation goal from Marc Munday was the highlight of a hugely disappointing afternoon for a Bexhill side which would’ve gone into the game buoyed by the previous weekend’s win against Lingfield.

Things began poorly for the home side as Southwick were gifted an opening goal inside five minutes when Andy McDowell’s half-hit shot eluded Bexhill goalkeeper Elliot Stokes.

There was little goalmouth incident during the remainder of the first half on a grey but calm afternoon at The Polegrove, although Southwick came close to a second in a scramble.

Into the second period and Munday was shown a yellow card, which Southwick thought should’ve been red, for a thunderous lunging tackle in the centre circle.

Southwick doubled their advantage with another soft goal in the 59th minute. Tom Donnelly’s cross from the left-hand side of the box was headed in at the far post by Ross Myers, although it looked like Stokes ought to have done better.

Nine minutes later it was 3-0. The lively Myers got away down the Southwick right and pulled the ball back for substitute Josh Newman to score with a superb finish which went in off the underside of the crossbar.

Munday came close at the far post following a good run and cross by Vitor Pestana, but Southwick added a fourth in the 74th minute. Craig Ottley’s attempted clearance went straight to Myers, who executed a lovely chip over Stokes and into the roof of the net.

If Southwick’s first two goals were poor from a Bexhill perspective, there was no disputing the quality of the finishes for numbers three and four.

Bexhill pulled one back with a good goal of their own in the 79th minute. Munday scored his fourth in five games with a powerful header into the bottom corner from a decent right wing cross by Aaron Tudor.

It was only a brief moment of cheer for Bexhill, however, and their misery was made complete by a fifth Southwick goal in the 88th minute. After a Bexhill corner was cleared, Myers got the better of Pestana on the away left and slipped the ball through for McDowell to round Stokes and tap into the empty net.

Bexhill: Stokes, A. Tudor, Ottley, Elliott-Noye, Cruikshank, Munday, Wheeler, Burgon (S. Cooper 55 (Roberts 78)), McDonald (Pickering 64), Barden, Pestana. Sub not used: Penny.

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