Sussex Senior Cup Second Round
The Polegrove, Bexhill-on-Sea
Admission: £6.00
Programme: £1.00
Attendance: 156
For this week's midweek action, I kept it local with my fifth visit of the season to The Polegrove with this Sussex Senior Cup tie.
With the "big boys" in Sussex football entering the competition at this stage, there would probably be mixed feelings amongst both clubs, perhaps slight disappointment at missing out on a tie against Brighton & Hove Albion U23, Crawley Town, Eastbourne Borough et al, a tie between two clubs in the Southern Combination League Premier Division at least offered a good chance to progress further. And on paper, it looked like a better opportunity for the hosts than the visitors, with Bexhill in great form at the moment, unbeaten in all competitions (excluding an FA Vase defeat on penalties) since mid September, a run spanning 15 games. They came into this game in fourth place in the table, following ten wins and six draws from their opening 19 league games. With a young squad, East Preston are struggling this season, second bottom in the division following just the one win and four draws from their 18 league games. They had conceded 15 goals in their last two league games, both at home, losing 0-9 against Eastbourne Town following a 0-6 defeat against Peacehaven & Telscombe, although they claimed their only win of the season in the game before. This evening's clubs have already met at The Polegrove in the league this season, with Bexhill winning 6-1 in mid October. To reach this stage, Bexhill won 3-0 at home to Division One outfit Wick, while East Preston impressively won 1-3 away at Southern Counties East League Premier Division outfit Crowborough Athletic.
On a cold and mainly clear evening, East Preston started on the front foot, forcing a corner in the first minute, from which a half volley was deflected just over the bar. Bexhill gradually asserted their authority, creating some decent chances before they took the lead on 20 minutes, when a high looping cross to the back post was stabbed home by Evan Archibald. They made it 2-0 on 33 minutes, when a free kick was bundled home from close range by Jack Shonk, and they seemed to make sure of their passage to the next round on the stroke of half time with a lovely goal by new signing from Sevenoaks Max Walsh, who received the ball just outside the area, took a touch, before striking the ball into the top left corner.
To their credit, the visitors started the second half strongly, forcing a few corners and good parries by the keeper, but Bexhill weathered the mini storm and in truth were in cruise control for most of the second half, as they saw out the win quite comfortably to progress to the next round.
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