Bexhill rally for unlikely win
Goals in the final quarter from Danny Leach (2) and Ashley Jarvis gave Kenny McCreadie a victory in his first home game as Bexhill manager and ended Eastbourne’s 100 per cent record in Sussex County Football League Division Two.
Eastbourne, who knocked Ryman Division One South side Herne Bay out of the FA Cup, opened up a comfortable 2-0 half time lead thanks to a pair of Wes Tate goals and it could have been more.
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Hide AdOne time Bexhill striker Tate opened the scoring in the sixth minute with a lovely free kick into the bottom corner from 10 yards outside the box and doubled Eastbourne’s advantage in the 25th minute with a right-foot drive into the bottom corner.
Former Sidley United wide player Jason Taylor was unlucky not to make it 3-0 in the 36th minute when he diverted Scott Dartnall’s shot against the post and then saw his follow-up tipped onto the crossbar by Russell Tanner.
Bexhill full-back George Aston, who was playing against his brother Jack, was fortunate to escape with a caution 10 minutes into the second half for a two-footed lunge on Dartnall. Eastbourne boss Simon Rowland was sent to the stand for protesting at the absence of a red card.
The home side pulled a goal back out of the blue in the 68th minute. Jarvis won a penalty near the byline to the left of goal and Leach sent Eastbourne goalkeeper Grant Young the wrong way with the spot-kick.
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Hide AdTaylor and ex-Bexhill forward Linton Rogers (twice) went close for Eastbourne, the latter forcing a fine fingertip save out of Tanner, while former Hastings United player-manager Sean Ray got back to clear a Tristan Jarvis effort from near the away goal-line.
Bexhill equalised in the 83rd minute when a corner from the right was flicked on and bundled in by Ashley Jarvis at the far post. Leach then scrambled home a winner three minutes later after Tristan Jarvis had turned Peter Cooper’s right wing cross goalwards.
Eastbourne midfielder Jack Divall had a decent chance to level things up again, but dragged his angled drive wide of the far post. The result moved Bexhill up to eighth in the table with 11 points from seven matches.
Bexhill: Tanner, Aston, P. Stevens (Ottley 90+2), Earley, Richardson, D. Stevens, T. Jarvis, A. Jarvis, Leach, Cooper, Rand (Tudor 51). Sub not used: Matthews.