First blood to Midhurst - then it's a first defeat

Visiting fans had their hopes raised as Gary Norgate looked set to score in the opening minutes but his shot was well cleared by Gavin Bourne in the home goal.

After 15 minutes, Lewis Hamilton seemed certain to score but again Bourne cleared.

Midhurst went ahead as Norgate picked up a good pass from Luke Sheldrick and drove the ball clear of Bourne.

Lewis Parsons looked certain to score on the half-hour but keeper Ian Knight kept Midhurst on level terms.

Play was held up when the referee noticed a corner flag was laying on the ground.

Five minutes before half-time Steve Morris had a good chance to open the scoring for Bexhill but shot wide.

On 47 minutes, Morris equalised for Bexhill.

Midhurst replaced Sheldrick with James Wills and Martin Denny put them ahead.

Midhurst looked ragged but they got it together and did everything but convert any of their chances. In the last minute Wills had a goal disallowed.

Midhurst hope to get back to winning ways as they take on Oakwood at Rotherfield on Saturday.

MIDHURST: Knight, Glue, White, Newton, O’Leary, Sheldrick, Pearce, Hamilton, Norgate, Dreckman, Wills. Subs: Farr, J Knight.

Midhurst seconds had probably their biggest-ever win, beating Rustington 20-1.

Goalscorers were Lawrence Hyde (6), Rory Goble (5), Jack Paterson (3), Dean Hush (3) and Callum Dowdell (2).

TED DUMMER

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