Bexhill United U23s live to regret missed chances after ten men Hailsham Town score ‘stunner’ to secure all three points. A result last Thursday evening was crucial in Bexhill’s hopes of closing the gap between them and 3rd placed Eastbourne Town U23s.
The match between Bexhill and Hailsham got underway at 19:35 after a five-minute delay due to some Hailsham players participating in Ramadan. Bexhill seemed to start the game quicker than Hailsham but after sloppy midfield play, Hailsham’s number 10 had a chance to put his team 1-0 up early, but his edge of the box volley was brilliantly tipped over the bar by Bexhill’s number one, Jordan Osbourne.
Bexhill’s first chance came early on when Hailsham’s goalkeeper dropped an easy catch but Bexhill’s number 9, Joel Kalambyi, couldn’t capitalise on this mistake and the ball was reclaimed by the goalkeeper. Seconds after this error, a great Bexhill press forces a second goalkeeping mistake. Harrison Smith (Bexhill’s number 11) pounces on a poor touch from the goalkeeper and plays a brilliant pass into the path of Kalambyi who slots it home from 3 yards out before the linesman’s flag is raised for offside. A tight call from the officials. Impossible to tell if the decision was correct but the ball looked to be played backwards from where I was sitting in the stand, VAR?
After a lively start from both sides, the game begins to settle down resulting in limited chances for either team. Great possession football around the back from Bexhill trying to move the Hailsham players around leads to nothing. 16 minutes in and a lazy press from the Bexhill forwards is easily bypassed by the Hailsham defence and midfield, leaving their defence open for a slipped pass down Hailsham’s right hand side for their right back to step onto and fire a cross into the Bexhill box. It’s blocked by the Bexhill centre back and the referee points to the spot. Handball, penalty to Hailsham Town. However, after consulting the linesmen the officials decided their initial decision was incorrect and a drop ball was awarded to Bexhill. Baffled.
From my view, it seemed a clear penalty. A big let off for Bexhill. Bexhill wasted no time from the drop ball and tried to catch Hailsham off guard, with some great wing play by Ethan Small (Bexhill’s number 10) who beat his man and played a superb cross into Kalambyi, but it was scrambled away by Hailsham. Inches away from the first goal. Bexhill now really pushing for that first opening before half time. The Bexhill backline easily won the ball once again before playing a beautiful clipped pass over the top to Smith who tried an ambitious half-volley from outside the box, It’s fired just wide. Another big chance goes abegging.
Approaching the half way point of the first half and there’d been plenty of chances for Bexhill and their didn’t seem to be any sign of that stopping. A corner for Bexhill resulted in another penalty shout (not as strong as Hailsham’s) which was quickly waved away by the referee. Minutes after their penalty shout, Bexhill had another great chance when Ethan Small produced an incredible touch to put the ball on a plate for Kalambyi who forced a great save from the Hailsham goalkeeper. Just past the 30 minute mark and a quick free kick over the top from Hailsham left Osbourne in no mans land. With Hailsham’s number 7 having most of the goal to aim at, it looked an almost certain goal. Up stepped Ollie Jefferies and Joe Skinner to prevent an almost guaranteed goal with two outstanding blocks in quick succession. With not long to go in the first half we saw the first booking of the game. It was for Hailsham’s right back who dragged back Bexhill’s Ollie Jefferies after a beautiful drop of the shoulder to get away from his marker.
There’d been lots of chances so far in the first half with many big blocks from Jordan Ray and Pat Kennedy, who both had a great first half. It was Hailsham’s turn to apply a bit of pressure from a corner but it all went horribly wrong for them when Kalambyi received the ball on the edge of the box and ,with great vision, dinked a ball over the top to Harrison Smith. Brilliantly, he used his pace and power to nick the ball past the Hailsham number one. The goalkeeper had no choice but to bring the Bexhill forward down. Unsurprisingly, the referee reached to his pocket and pulled out a red card. Hailsham down to ten men and under increasing pressure from Bexhill. Bexhill now had a big chance to take the lead before half time with a free-kick from Ethan Small against an outfield player filling in, in goal. The shot was smashed against the Hailsham wall. A solid first half from Bexhill including some beautiful chances, great defending and plenty of chances but both teams going in equal. Bexhill must be winning from here.
The second half began and the rain started to pour. A slow and sloppy start to this half from both teams results in minimal chances and not much action. There was some brilliant defending in the air and on the floor from Bexhill’s number 5 and 6 to prevent any danger that could’ve caused them to concede. Under no pressure Bexhill’s left back played a ridiculous pass across the back line, straight into the path of Hailsham’s striker. The number 14 looked to be in, but from nowhere Pat Kennedy makes a brilliant recovery challenge to keep the scores level. It was now Bexhill’s chance to go forward and show off to the crowd. It was almost like we were watching Soccer AM when the Bexhill player’s produced three nutmegs in a matter of seconds. Hailsham also tried a bit of skill when their number 8 did a neat little scorpion kick to drop the ball into his path before he was brilliantly tackled by Bexhill’s Pat Kennedy. Free-kick awarded to Hailsham? An encounter filled with questionable officiating decisions and this wouldn’t be the last of them. To the shock of nobody in the Polegrove, the referee made another strange decision and allowed Hailsham’s number 8 (who had been taken off for treatment) to return back onto the pitch as the free-kick was taken, leaving him in acers of space and unmarked. Fortunately, Bexhill managed to win the ball back quickly.
70 minutes played and the game had become a cagey affair with the only noticeable chance coming from Ethan Small, who’s bended shot went over the bar. The flow of the game started to become bitty due to subs being made, more questionable officiating and yellow cards for Hailsham and Bexhill’s number 7 and captain, Dominic Whittaker.
The next big chance in the game came for Hailsham’s number 11, a quick free-kick from the half-way line goes sailing over the bar. That was close. Bexhill had been on top for the majority of the game but with just under 20 minutes to play, disaster struck. A long goal kick taken by the Hailsham defender was missed by everyone and bounced up perfectly to number 7 to magnificently lob Osbourne from 30 yards out. A class finish and nothing the Bexhill keeper could do about that. With 5 minutes to go the referee had a moment to forget when he incorrectly awarded Bexhill a free-kick even though there was no contact. From that free-kick Ethan Small tried another ambitious effort from just past the half-way line but it was drilled inches wide. Out for a goal kick. Actually, Bexhill were awarded a corner even though there was no touch from a Hailsham player. Questionable decisions once again.
The time began to run out for Bexhill and it looked like it wasn’t going to be their night. A lovely floated free-kick from Ethan Small is headed just wide from Jordan Ray. A guilt edged chance not taken once again. 4 minutes added time, last chance for Bexhill to find an equaliser. There was one more chance. A great corner from the Bexhill winger landed perfectly on Kalambyi’s head who knocks it down for Smith, headed over from what must’ve been no more than 6 yards. The referee raised his whistle to his lips and blew for full-time. A disappointing night for Bexhill United U23s, a great opportunity missed to close the gap on the teams above them.
Reported by Louis Selling Bexhill College