Boxing Day. The time of the year when football fixtures go crazy, anything can happen. Little Common v Bexhill United was certainly one of those fixtures and it did not disappoint. The Pirates looked lively from the off and within 3 minutes they created an opening down the left-hand side. Ollie Hull raced into the box and curled an effort against the far post. The rebound cannoned back towards him, he adjusted his feet quickly to tap the ball into the empty net. 1-0 Bexhill, the perfect start. The early goal didn’t discourage Little Common and 5 minutes later they found an equaliser. A whipped free kick from Sam Cruttwell was delivered into the danger area and straight onto the head of number 9. 1-1 after 10 minutes. The next 10 minutes were controlled by Little Common, and they forced Alex Hobden into multiple good saves.
Bexhill also created a big chance through Harrison Smith, who drove past his man with quick feet and smashed a shot towards goal, but it was easily saved by the goalkeeper. The home side continued to dominate, and they inevitably went ahead. A cutback from the right winger found the midfielder, who laid the ball off to number 11 and the ball flew into the roof of the net. 2-1 with 30 minutes played. Little Common didn’t stop there though. A few minutes later Little Common drew a foul down the left wing in a great crossing position. Sam Cruttwell set the ball up once again, but this time he whipped the ball up, over the Bexhill keeper and into the top corner. A fantastic freekick from the ex-Hastings United defender. 3-1 Little Common, the game had been completely flipped on its head. Despite Bexhill’s fast start, they headed into half time 3-1 with Little Common in complete control.
The second half started in exactly the same way as the first. Bexhill started fast and within 3 minutes they found a goal. A low cross from the right win was played into a dangerous area and the centre back couldn’t adjust his body as it bounced off him and into the back of the net. 3-2, game on.
The hour marked approached with Bexhill pushing for an equaliser. A free kick from Jack Shonk was headed inches over the bar and Little Common failed to extend their lead as the ball whistled past the post. The game became more and more scrappy as full time edged nearer, less chances were created, but a quick counterattack from Jack Samways presented a huge chance, but after lightning speed from Harrison Smith took him past the fullback, he couldn’t convert the chance. Little Common created 3 huge chances, but Alex Hobden produced some big saves to keep his side in the game with 10 minutes to play. For the final 10 minutes Little Common just looked to defend their lead and it seemed like they had done it. With seconds left to play, Harrison Smith was brought down on the edge of the box. The final chance for The Pirates. Jack Shonk placed the ball down, stepped back, and took a deep breath. Time stopped as he hit the ball. It curled low around the wall and into the bottom corner. GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL! In the dying seconds Jack Shonk produced a moment of magic to earn his side a well-deserved point.
Louis Selling – Bexhill College