It was a quick turnaround for Bexhill United as they headed to Uckfield last Tuesday, looking to pick up their first points of the season. Neither side had been getting good results so far this season, so this was a game in which both needed to win. So, with that being said, we were in for one great game.
The game kicked off at 7.30pm and for the first 10 minutes there were barely any chances for either side as both looked to retain a solid formation to prevent falling behind early on. While there were no chances so far, there was one huge refereeing decision that somehow went in Uckfield’s favour. James Stone was put through on goal with a great pass over the top, but as he looked to have burst past his man he was clipped and taken out. It looked like a clear foul and a red card for the last man, but the referee waved play on. The pirates were outraged.
After a slow first 10 minutes, the next 5 minutes were action packed. There were two huge chances for Uckfield to take the lead, their forward was put clean through on goal but as he burst into the box he was brought down. Surely, this one had to be a penalty. The referee waved play on again and Bexhill breathed a sigh of relief, that evened things up.
Only minutes later the same pattern of play happens again. The Bexhill defence didn’t deal with the long ball which set the home side’s forward off again, but Fin Holter got out quickly to produce an amazing save to keep his side level. A very important save from the young man. Almost immediately after the save, Bexhill broke forward to catch Uckfield on the counterattack. The ball found its way out to the Pirate’s winger Charlie Curran, as he received the ball, he only had one thought in his mind, and he executed it brilliantly. He drove towards the line then fired a ball into the feet of Jack Shonk for an easy tap in. 1-0 to Bexhill after an exciting few minutes. A superb team goal. Even after the goal, the balance of the game was still even, and Uckfield wanted to find a quick equaliser. They should’ve had it. A wide free kick was looped into Bexhill’s box and the home side’s number 5 jumped head and shoulders above everyone else to fire his header towards goal. Inches over the bar.
Another chance quickly followed for Uckfield when their forward and midfielder combined on the edge of the box. They moved the ball well to create space for their number 9, but his shot was scuffed into Fin’s hands. Two let offs for Bexhill. 30 minutes had been played and it was now Bexhill who were on top as they had a couple of chances to extend their lead. The first was a corner that was inches away from James Stone’s boot after the initial header was flicked towards the back post. The second came from a Pirlo like switch out to Ollie Hull from Pritchard. The number 3 took a wonderful touch to burst past his man before quickly cutting back and curling the ball towards the top corner. His shot was saved by the keeper. The score remained 1-0. With around 10 minutes of the first half to play, there was a bit of miscommunication from Bexhill as they failed to clear the ball. A few sloppy passes were played, and the worst was bounced back to Fin. It was bobbling all over the place as two Uckfield players raced towards it but as they approached, Fin took one touch to take the ball past one man, another to take it past the other to split them and finally a third to ping a ball out to his right back. As cool as a cucumber. It was clear that Bexhill needed to find a second.
For the final few minutes of the half, Uckfield really looked to press forward and go into half time at 1-1. Another scuffed shot and a misplaced long-range effort were enough to keep Bexhill’s clean sheet. On the stroke of half time, Bexhill broke forward again with a slipped ball to Aaron Cook. Once again, he burst into the box and as the keeper closed down the angle, he squared the ball off to Jack Shonk for another tap in and his second of the game. 2-0 to Bexhill as that looked to be the final action of the first 45 minutes, but straight from kick off the Pirates won the ball back and Aaron Cook found himself through again. This time he tried to lift the ball over the keeper, but it was straight into his gloves. Now that was definitely the final action of the first half and Bexhill headed in 2-0 up after an end-to-end half.
The second half started and Uckfield immediately created a chance from another cross. The ball was fired in around hip height, but it flashed across the face of goal and luckily no one was there to direct it towards goal. Bexhill also created some early chance from corners, but nothing come from them. Both sides had been getting a lot of joy down the wings and once again Charlie Curran tap the ball past his man as he sprinted towards the by-line. He played another fantastic low cross into the box, but this time it was just behind Jack Shonk. 55 minutes played and Uckfield won another free kick. It was looped high towards the big man at the back post, he nodded the ball down and from that range it looked an almost certain goal. Fin Holter had other ideas. Somehow the number 1 reacted in milliseconds to get down and push the ball away before tipping the follow up over the bar. Wow!
Another few chances followed for Bexhill, but they couldn’t find a third. James Stone’s hold up play led to the chances, but the shot was flashed wide of the post and blocked by the Uckfield defence. There was 20 minutes to play when Uckfield’s number 10 carried the ball across the pitch (he was rapid) before travelling into the box and beating his man. His cross was cleared to the edge of the box. It wasn’t far enough as the man cut inside and whipped a shot into the top corner. A beautiful goal to reduce the deficit. A nervous 20 minutes followed for Bexhill. Unsurprisingly, Bexhill decided to just sit back and try to retain their 2-1 lead for the rest of the game. Uckfield started to pepper the goal with shots, but strong tackles and resolute defending kept the home side out. Uckfield continued push for the last few minutes but finally the referee ended the game and Bexhill picked up their first points of the season in an extremely exciting and end to end game. Onwards and upwards from here!
Louis Selling – Bexhill College