18/04/2023
The Pirates struggle to score after creating a bucket load of chances, leaving them only a point to take back to the Polegrove.
The first half between Bexhill United and Little Common was a very exciting one. It was very even but both teams were having a go at each other and looking to score goals. This exciting attacking football meant the game was very open, leaving gaps in the defences which caused there to be more chances.
The majority of the chances came from what I can only describe as ‘Burnley ball’ (prior to the change from Vincent Kompany) with the bobbles in the pitch causing the ball to run off in unexpected ways creating breaks for the forwards. Both teams created similar chances with two headers having to be cleared off the line from either team and wild shot being slashed over the bar. Most of Bexhill’s good chances came from the pace and skill of Harrison Smith down the left-hand side. The best chance he created was when he used his pace to breeze past two players and fire a cross into the box for Tom Vickers whose downward hearer ended up bouncing over the bar.
The most spectacular chance of the game was a 35-yard curler from Joe Summerbell who’s first time finesse dipped just over the bar. That would’ve been some goal and similar to the one scored last season in the same fixture. However, the first half wasn’t dominated by Bexhill at all. Little Common had a few chances from in and around the box that they dragged just wide and a long ball forward from Matt Cruttwell (Common’s goalkeeper) that bounced awkwardly and had to be dealt with by Alex Zamani. Common’s two best chances came in quick succession when a long-range strike was smashed against the crossbar, this effort fell to their left winger whose low curled shot was tipped past the post by Bexhill’s number 1. A very open first half with a tone of chances ended 0-0 with both sets of fans slightly baffled as to how neither team had scored.
The second half started in the same fashion as the first. Plenty of chances for either side but they were dragged wide of hit over the bar. The best chance of the half (maybe even the game) came after a foul by Ollie Hull around the half way line. Little Common loaded the box and dumped the free-kick towards their tall players. The ball was headed down and cleared off the line but it fell to another Little Common player and his shot was also cleared off the line before the ball was finally smashed up the pitch and away from any danger. A few minutes later Joe Summerbell picked the ball up in midfield and played an inch perfect through ball to Harrison Smith, to set him up for a 1v1 against the keeper. Matt Cruttwell was quick off his line to narrow the angle and push away the Bexhill number 11’s shot. The encounter became scrappy after the first 20 minutes and neither team created many clear-cut chances. The Little Common number 1 was forced into a few easy saves but apart from that the attacking threat had dried up. There wasn’t long to play and the players had become increasingly frustrated which led to some handbags and yellow cards for a player from either team and the Bexhill manager. The game ended 0-0 after an adventurous attacking display from both teams entertained the fans but the finishing touch was missing. A solid point for Bexhill after a great performance but I can imagine they’re going home slightly frustrated.
Report by Louis Selling – Bexhill College
Full pictures by Joe Knight here