Sucker punches KO Bexhill

Two sucker punches in the first 16 minutes condemned United to defeat as they struggled to get to grips with the heavy conditions which the home side thrived on.

The result leaves Bexhill 11th in Sussex Division Three after only picking up three league wins this campaign. But having scored 21 goals in their last three games, the defeat was disappointing for Watkins who said: "We failed to adapt to the bad pitch and we paid for it.

"Two individual errors cost us two early goals and we didn't get going until the second half.

"The pitch didn't suit our style of play, but we must learn to adapt quickly and change our play to suit any conditions.

I was happy with our second half performance but by that time it was too late."

United started the game literally trying to find their feet as they battled against the playing conditions and a St Francis team which are riding high in the league in third place.

Only five minutes had elapsed before the home side took the lead when Andy Wilson's hopeful freekick flew in after United keeper Adam Taylor had misjudged the flight of the ball.

St Francis doubled their advantage just six minutes later when Dave Mansell beat an attempted offside trap by the visiting defence and ran on to score unchallenged.

The visitors had their moments in the first half with Sam Rimmer going close, but when Ollie Leigh twisted his knee and had to go off, the omens seemed to be against United.

It was a different story after half time as Bexhill went out with nothing to lose and it was the home team who were pinned in their own half.

United began to look solid in every department and substitute Billy Trivett, who was making his County League debut, came into a back four which was fairly untroubled for the remainder of the game.

Tim Funnell and Ashdown Hurrey Man of the Match Ian Oliver dominated the midfield, but after Guy Bentley fell victim of the poor conditions and injured his hamstring, United never looked like breaking the resilient home defence.

Bexhill: Taylor, Kayne, Wright (Trivett), Bentley, Makin, Jackson, Funnell, Wild (Page), Leigh (Pickles), Oliver, Rimmer.