It was a calm evening last Tuesday as Bexhill headed across the road to face Little Common in the Peter Bentley cup. The last time I watched this fixture, the game ended in an exciting 0-0 but this time I had a feeling that there would be plenty of goals….
The match started with Little Common on top and there wasn’t much Bexhill could do apart from stay strong at the back. That’s what the Pirates did as they defended well to clear away any danger from crosses and freekicks. Just before the 10-minute mark, Bexhill sloppily gave the ball away in midfield and after a few slick passes Little Common’s striker found himself clean through on goal. As he raced towards the box, it looked to be a certain goal but somehow Joe Skinner recovered quickly to make a superb tackle and clear the ball away. The game continued in the same way up until the 15th minute when Jack Shonk was picked out on the run, but his curled effort was saved by the goalkeeper and from that save a great opportunity arose, but the rebound was brilliantly saved by the goalkeeper once again. Two corners followed for Bexhill with one being tipped over the bar and the other setting Little Common up for a counter attacker, but their close-range effort was well saved by Fin Holter. For the next 15 minutes the game became a midfield battle with minimal chances being created and both attacks become frustrated, and that was shown when Jack Shonk beat three men and tried a shot from just inside the half. It was scuffed and easily collected by the goalkeeper. For all Little Common’s domination, the score was still 0-0 and it was Bexhill who were starting to create the chances. Two huge chances went agonisingly past the post as Charlie Curran’s curled effort was inches wide and Jack Shonk’s low cross wasn’t attacked by anyone at the back post. With just over 5 minutes left of the first half, Bexhill created another big chance through James Stone, but his drilled effort was again saved by the goalkeeper before an ambitious volley from Little Common went sailing over the bar. There were only a few minutes left of the half and Little Common started to push again and they should’ve scored from one of their two corners, but the bobbling ball was smashed against the bar and the other cleared away by Bexhill. On the stroke of half time Bexhill lost concentration as the home side picked up the loose ball in midfield and started a lovely passing sequence that ended with number 9s powerful shot just creeping under Fin Holter and finding its way into the net. A hugely disappointing moment after all their hard work so far. Straight from the restart Little Common won the ball back again and should’ve scored a second but their deflected shot bounced over the bar. The Pirates only had themselves to blame as they headed into the changing rooms 1-0 down.
The second half started exactly the same as the first as Little Common came out flying for their second goal. A few corners were cleared away by Bexhill but a long throw in was flicked past Fin Holter and the number 5 wheeled away in celebration just two minutes into the second half. Once again, all the hard work was undone in seconds but there was still a long way to go. There didn’t seem to be any reaction from the Pirates as Little Common just went up through the gears and looked almost certain to find a third. Thankfully, Fin Holter was hand to keep Bexhill in the game and tip and outrageous bicycle-kick over the bar. Out of nothing, Bexhill had a massive chance to reduce the deficit as Charlie Curran pressed the goalkeeper. The number 1 completely messed up his pass as the number 7 nicked the ball from his feet and fired it into the empty net. That’s exactly what Bexhill needed, and they were now back in the game with half an hour left to play. Could they find an equaliser? No. immediately, from the kick-off Little Common pumped the ball forward. Their winger cut inside, then outside to find space for a cross that was nodded in by the number 9 as he jumped head and shoulders above everyone else. A really silly goal to give away as Bexhill had just found a way back into the game. 5 minutes after Little Common’s goal, Jack Samway’s pinged a beautiful ball over to Charlie Curran who stopped the ball dead and burst inside beating four players. He played a nice pass back to Samways who took a touch into the box and placed a shot into the bottom corner. A fantastic goal and Bexhill had dug themselves out once again. 3-2 with 25 minutes left to play. For the next 10 minutes the goals calmed down, but it was Bexhill who were on top and looking for the equaliser. Little Common played well to restrict the away side’s chances but there was definitely something in this game for them. Bexhill had two more massive chances in the final few minutes, but Shonk’s header was strongly pushed away by the keeper and Samway’s strike rattled the crossbar. Unfortunately, the game ended in defeat for Bexhill, and they probably should’ve taken the game into extra time/penalties but there was still plenty of positives to take from the game against a very good Little Common side.