Bexhill hit for six in '˜unacceptable' display

'˜Inept and unacceptable' was how Bexhill United Football Club joint manager Ryan Light described his team's performance in a heavy defeat on Saturday.
By The Newsroom
Published 26th Sep 2016, 17:39 BST
Updated 7th Jun 2018, 23:35 BST

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Georges Gouet scored Bexhill United's consolation in the 6-1 defeat to Steyning Town. Picture courtesy Alan CoomesGeorges Gouet scored Bexhill United's consolation in the 6-1 defeat to Steyning Town. Picture courtesy Alan Coomes
Georges Gouet scored Bexhill United's consolation in the 6-1 defeat to Steyning Town. Picture courtesy Alan Coomes

The Pirates conceded three goals in either half as they were hammered 6-1 at home to Steyning Town in Macron Store Southern Combination Football League Division One.

Light said: “I can’t really defend that performance. It was out of character, out of the blue, totally inept and unacceptable. It was just a calamitous afternoon.

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“If you’re defeated, but your standards are high and you give everything you can, you can kind of accept it. But to gift a team a victory in half-an-hour in the manner we did just won’t be tolerated.

Matt Cunnington produced an outstanding display for Bexhill despite the scoreline. Picture courtesy Jon SmalldonMatt Cunnington produced an outstanding display for Bexhill despite the scoreline. Picture courtesy Jon Smalldon
Matt Cunnington produced an outstanding display for Bexhill despite the scoreline. Picture courtesy Jon Smalldon

“Let’s just hope it was a total one-off. The players have been read the riot act, they’re a great bunch of lads and that hurt them.”

Although Bexhill were three-down in half-an-hour, they actually had two good chances early on. Jacob Shelton lobbed wide with the goalkeeper off his line and Billy Trickett lifted the ball over when almost on the goal-line at a corner.

Bexhill fell behind when goalkeeper Dan Rose scuffed a goal kick straight to an opposing forward. Steyning’s second - a free header from a corner - was the first goal Bexhill have conceded from a set-piece this season.

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A third Steyning goal left Bexhill with a mountain to climb. The hosts switched to a 3-4-3 formation at half time only to concede again within two minutes of the restart.

The lone highlight for Bexhill was the excellent Matt Cunnington producing what Light described as ‘the most amazing bit of skill I’ve ever seen in non-league football’ to set up Georges Gouet for the consolation.

Bexhill: Rose; Kidman (Willis), A. Trickett (Butchers), McFarlane, Ottley; Cunnington, B. Trickett, Robertson, Cuddington, Barden; Shelton (Gouet).

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Related topics:PiratesBexhillSteyning Town