Wednesday 8th February 2023, Kick-off 19.30
Southern Combination League Premier Division
The Polegrove, Bexhill-on-Sea
Admission: £6.00
Programme: £1.50
Attendance: 109
It is not often I take in games on consecutive midweek evenings when I am working, however this week I did just that, for a couple of game within the town of Bexhill, and for my second successive Wednesday evening visit to The Polegrove.
Following last Wednesday's defeat at home to Crowborough, Bexhill won 2-0 against strugglers Saltdean United, and came into this game in ninth place in the table, following 13 wins and two draws from their 25 league games. Midhurst & Easebourne, faced with not the greatest of journeys midweek from close to the Hampshire border to the East Sussex coast, came into this game in 12th place, following nine wins and four draws from their 24 league games, but were in poor form, having now won since 3rd December, picking up just two points from their last five league games, with those coming in their last two games, following three defeats. When the two clubs met on the opening day of the season back in late July, the game ended in a 1-1 draw. As this game was twice postponed, since its original date on 10th December, the original programme was issued today, with a 4 page insert to provided updated information.
On another very chilly evening, with a light frost developing during the game, the first half was lively and even, with the visitors probably creating more of the chances, and they should really have gone into half time on level terms at least, but were let down by some poor finishing, and instead went in two goals behind. Bexhill opened the scoring on 18 minutes, when a free kick was delivered into the box, and after the ball bobbled around inside the box, Stephen Okoh eventually managed to poke the ball gently in off the right hand post. And against the run of play, they doubled their lead on 43 minutes when the ball was floated towards the back post, and Evan Archibald stooped to connect with a glancing header, sending the ball into the back of the net.
Midhurst could consider themselves unlucky to be behind at the break, but they pulled a goal back in the 53rd minute when the ball was headed across goal and Marcus Bedford headed home. But in truth, Bexhill had more control of the game during the second half as Midhurst did not look so much of a threat, and the home side eventually made sure of the three points in the 80th minute when Okoh ran through the middle and, ignoring team mates either side, he contributes into the box before whipping the ball past the keeper. They thought they had scored again four minutes later, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
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