Bexhill ready to rise to Challenge

BEXHILL United believe that they have their best chance yet of upsetting neighbours Sidley United when the sides do battle in the third Bexhill Challenge.

The Polegrove club, currently lying second in Sussex Division Three, have been well and truly dispatched by their Sussex Division One neighbours in the two previous meetings, with Sidley winning 5-0 at home in 2003 and 3-0 at the Polegrove last year.

The 2005 version will take place at Gullivers on Wednesday March 30 after an agreement between the clubs was reached last weekend.

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"I think we've got a much stronger side this year," said Bexhill manager Bill Trivett. "With respect to Sidley United, they are a good side with very, very experienced players, but I feel we will give them a better game this year.

"It's a great way to finish the season and it should be a good evening. I think a lot of people will want to watch it, particularly as we've got a lot of Bexhill boys in the team now, whereas it has been a bit of a Hastings or Eastbourne team in the past. Because we're up at Sidley we can also kick-off a bit later and allow people to get up there and watch it."

Bexhill chairman Dave Harris, who is stepping down as organiser of the match this year but will still be watching from the sidelines, added: "I think it will be a very competitive game and it's definitely our best chance in the three years."

The match is very much on the back-burner at the moment, though, because both sides have some crucial games beforehand.

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Not even Sidley themselves know what sort of side they will field at present because they have important matches in their battle to beat the drop on the Saturday and Monday before the Challenge and the following Saturday.

Bexhill conclude their quest for promotion with two fixtures over the Easter weekend, although they are certain to field their strongest available side because their only subsequent tie isn't until April 20 when they face East Sussex Premier Division club Peche Hill Select in the Hastings FA Intermediate Cup final.