New faces revive Bexhill

The quartet perked up a Bexhill side which hadn't played for six weeks and gave manager Bill Trivett a first victory in six attempts since taking charge at the start of October.

Reflecting on the 4-3 win at home to Uckfield Town, he said: "I'm not going to say we've turned the corner, but at least we battled our way to three points and showed a bit of class going forward."

Goalkeeper Kusha Movaffagh, defender Darren Clifton and lightning fast striker Richard Piper brought some welcome higher level experience, while Brian Ray made a cameo appearance off the substitutes' bench.

Movaffagh and Piper came from Sussex Division Two big guns Wealden, while Clifton and Ray arrived courtesy of fellow Division Three club Little Common.

Clifton was first to make an impression, giving away a penalty which was struck against the post by Uckfield goalkeeper Graham Leach.

Piper was next into the action and this time it was better news for second-bottom Bexhill because his cutback was tucked away by David Harris for the 18th minute opener.

A Piper free kick was turned into his own net by Gary Sawyer on 25 minutes and Dave Carey, who had previously seen an effort splendidly saved, picked out the top corner to make it 3-0 four minutes from the break.

Ben Elsey pulled one back for the third-bottom visitors with a deflected effort less than three minutes after the re-start, but Bexhill's three goal cushion was restored by a looping header from their man of the match Ricky Mote 10 minutes later.

As the rain lashed down on The Polegrove, Uckfield set up a nervy final dozen minutes courtesy of a Ben Mitchell brace.

But despite being subjected to constant pressure and having their crossbar rattled twice, United clung on for their first home success of the campaign against an Uckfield team still to triumph away.

The only downside for Bexhill was the sending-off of Carey following a clash with Matt Michaels, who was also dismissed, with the score at 4-2.

Uckfield in fact ended a pulsating contest with only nine men because Dan Barnard was banished to the dressing room for two bookable offences.

Trivett added: "The last five minutes were unbearable. It's been a difficult two months and we really needed that, no matter how it came."