It was a lovely Wednesday evening for some cup football. Although it was a tad chilly, the sun was still lighting the Polegrove as it opened its gates for the first time this season. The pirates welcomed Forest Row in this round of the Sussex County Challenge Cup, hoping to progress far in this competition.
The match kicked off a few minutes late due to Bexhill’s ‘Stars of the future’ being able to walk out with the team. What an experience it was for them. Once the young Pirates had taken their seats, the referee blew his whistle and as the great Martin Tyler used to say ‘Anddddd It’s Live!’. The first few minutes started relatively even with both teams finding their feet in the game and trying a lot of long balls to stretch the back lines. Just under 10 minutes in, Forest Row’s defence failed to deal with one of Bexhill’s balls over the top. A lazy clearance was picked up by Aaron Cook and he immediately drove into the box, he looked to be fouled but the ball fell to James Stone who beat his man on the inside, then on the outside before he drilled a lovely ball into the box for Jack Shonk to flick home. The perfect start for the Pirates. 1-0 with 8 minutes on the clock. The away side looked to respond quickly with some aggressive pressing which seemed to be working but so far, the finishing wasn’t there for them. Two great chances were blazed over the bar. 20 minutes had been played and the game was still a battle of long balls, with a few chances being created by both sides. The best of them came to Forest Row when their right winger burst into the box, he had a clear shot but out of nowhere Joe Skinner timed a slide tackle to perfection to win the ball back inside his own 6-yard box. A much-needed last ditch challenge. The home side also missed a big opportunity when Jack Samways tried to flick a shot over the keeper, but it drifted wide of the post. The game now started to develop into more of a midfield scrap which reduced the chances for both sides. Just under 30 minutes in and Jack Shonk received a through ball on the half turn, without hesitation he looked up and spotted the Forest Row goalkeeper off his line. Around 35 yards out he drew his leg back and thundered a shot over the keeper and into the back of the net. WHAT A GOAL! Captain fantastic struck again to double Bexhill’s lead. The Pirates really started to dominate now and should’ve had a third when Harrison Smith’s inch perfect cross found Aaron Cook at the back post. He tried and acrobatic effort but it skimmed the side netting. For the final 10/15 minutes of the half the pattern of the game remained the same, as Bexhill pushed for a third. Minutes before half time James Stone picked up the ball just outside the box, he completely bamboozled his marker and effortlessly sprinted past him. As he shaped to shoot from close range, he was dragged down in what looked like a stonewall penalty (no pun intended). Shockingly, the officials waved play on before promptly blowing the half time whistle. The Pirates headed in happy, but also feeling somewhat robbed by a few decisions.
The second half started sluggish for the first 15 minutes with the main bright spark being Harrison Smith who looked dangerous with his bursts of pace and low driven crosses into the box (which were unlucky to not be converted) but apart from that there were no other chances for either side. After the hour mark arrived, Bexhill started to build some momentum again, but Forest Row defended well to head a deep freekick off the line before Jack Shonk’s ambitious freekick skimmed off the bar. Bexhill should’ve had a third from Jack Shonk’s whipped cross but Tom O’Shaughnessy miss timed his volley and scuffed the shot wide of the post. There was just under 15 minutes to play when Forest Row created their first chance of the half, a cross-come-shot was fired towards the back post and debutant Adam De Sousa reacted well to tip the ball out for a corner. The following corner resulted in nothing for the away side, but Bexhill broke forward and kept the ball well before Harrison Smith played another fantastic cross into the box. It was just behind Jack Shonk, and he fired it just over the bar. So close to a hattrick! The game had been brilliant so far for the Pirates but something that usually happens was missing…. With 10 minutes left of the game, Aaron Cook took the ball superbly on the half turn before playing a ball through to James Stone, he was clean through and once again taken out inside the box. This time it was a penalty. Calmly, he placed the ball on the spot and after a few deep breaths, placed the ball into the bottom left corner. James Stone. He. Is. Inevitable. The final 10 minutes petered out pretty quickly and the referee blew his whistle for the final time. The perfect Polegrove return for Bexhill and they’re into the hat for the next round.
Louis Selling – Bexhill College