Bexhill United 3 Southwick 0, SCFL Division 1, 26th
September 2018
“I can’t make squash this week, mate. I’m injured.”
And with these words, spoken by my regular (well, since the
start of August) Wednesday night squash partner, the seeds for an extra – bonus
– groundhopping adventure were sown.
“Ohh,” I replied. “I think Bexhill are playing Southwick on
Wednesday night. Fancy that instead?”
A moment’s pause. He may have been contemplating my offer.
He may have been weighing up quite why I knew that Bexhill were due to be
playing Southwick on a random Wednesday evening. Who knows? Anyway, after a
little consideration he decided that he did indeed fancy a trip to the football.
So, this Wednesday evening, at a time when we should have
been charging (well, probably not charging, more... ambling) around a squash
court trying to burn off some unwanted calories, we were instead sharing a couple
of pints in Southwick’s clubhouse. Oh well. Best laid intentions and all that.
Now, some of the more eagle-eyed among you may have noticed
that I’ve mentioned being in Southwick’s clubhouse, despite the fact that
Bexhill are listed as the home-side in the above score-line. This is not an
error – perish the thought. The game was switched on Monday due to ongoing
groundwork at Bexhill’s home ground, so although this match was played in
Southwick it officially counted as a Bexhill home game.
It had been the announcement of this switch on Twitter that
had initially alerted me to the fact that this game was being played. Despite
what my friend may think, I don’t have Rain-man like abilities when it comes to
Sussex football. Although, admittedly, I am getting there.
Due to the fairly last-minute change in venue there was no
hot food being served at the game, much to my companion’s chagrin. He was
starving. Instead we consoled ourselves with a packet of pork scratchings (me)
and some bacon fries (him) and resolved to head to the closest McDonald’s drive-thru
after the game. Unfortunately, on this latter mission my friend proved himself
to be rather less reliable than a SatNav, and a quick tour of Southwick and
Portslade followed. Unlike U2, we did eventually find what we were looking for.
Anyway, back to the game. Admission to Southwick’s Old Barn
Way Stadium was just £5 a person, with a hastily put together program thrown in
for free. Admittedly, I’ve been quite spoilt with some of the grounds I’ve
visited recently, and don’t think I’d be unjust in saying that Southwick’s
ground is one that has probably seen better days. That’s not to say there’s
anything wrong with it. It’s certainly no worse than a lot of grounds at this
level. The main stand looks nice enough, and the padded seats for added comfort
were a nice touch. It just looked a little… well… shabby in places.
Unfortunately, as is the case for thousands of non-league clubs
up and down the country, money is an issue. As hard as volunteers work they can’t
do everything. In my opinion it is clubs around this level throughout the
nation where the FA should be providing far more funding as a little
(relatively speaking) can go a long way.
The first half of the match, as the league table had
suggested would be the case, was one-way traffic, with high-flying and
free-scoring Bexhill utterly dominant. They took the lead with pretty much
their first real attack of the first-half, when Jack Shonk scored a delightful
effort with the outside of his boot from the edge of the area on the 11-minute
mark.
Ten minutes later it was two. Sammy Bunn finished off some
really good interplay, which resulted in a clever lay-off from Wayne Giles and
a driven strike from 20 yards. It was possibly the best worked goal that I’ve
seen so far on my travels this season!
The rest of the half played out like an attack vs defence drill,
with Southwick forays into the Bexhill half as rare as a Jose Mourinho smile.
Yet Bexhill could not find a way through for what, I’m sure, would have been a
decisive third goal. Potentially a goal that would have opened the floodgates
for a real hiding.
The second-half was a complete contrast from the opening 45
minutes. Whether it was a case of Bexhill thinking the game was won and taking
their collective foot off the pedal, or some unbelievably motivational words
coming from the Southwick dressing room during the interval, the visitors (who
were playing at home) suddenly began to have the upper hand. This was much to
the annoyance of my friend and I, who had moved to the other end of the ground,
expecting most of the action to take place in the end Bexhill were attacking.
That’ll teach us for being presumptuous!
Were it not for three superb saves from Bexhill goalkeeper
Daniel Rose, and a headed clearance off the line, the outcome of this game could
have been every different.
This isn’t to say The Pirates didn’t threaten sporadically.
They did have the ball in the net around halfway through the second-half, following
a goalkeeping error, only for the assistant’s flag to rule out a third goal.
The final goal came deep into injury time, to give an
unflattering sheen to the scoreline – at least from the Wickers’ perspective.
It came in rather comical circumstances – an own goal from one of the defenders
(sorry didn’t see who it was, probably much to his relief) who somehow managed
to chip his own goalkeeper, who was stranded well outside the area, from 30-yards.
When your luck’s not in…
So it finished 3-0 to the hosts/visitors. Let’s just say
Bexhill.
All that remained now was a trip to McDonalds to top up on
our pint and bar snacks.
Let’s hope my friend’s injury doesn’t last too long.
I’m not sure my waistline could take it!
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