The best side lost, says Bexhill joint boss

Bexhill United joint manager Ryan Light. Picture courtesy Mark Killy

Bexhill went down 3-0 at home to fellow Macron Store Southern Combination Football League Division One club Southwick in round one of the Parafix Sussex Senior Challenge Cup.

Light said: "We were by far the dominant side for 90 minutes. I'm disappointed with the result and to concede three goals, but our all-round game was good.

"Our passing was fantastic second half, we probably passed the ball as well as we have done all season. We were excellent in possession."

The strong wind played havoc with the contest. Bexhill had the conditions in their favour during the first half and Southwick barely made it into home territory.

Bexhill struggled to fashion clear openings, though, and the only goal of a scrappy opening 45 minutes went to Southwick with their only real shot before the break.

Home goalkeeper Dan Rose lost a cross in the wind and the ball dropped against the heel of a Bexhill defender before falling perfectly for Ross Petts to score.

If anything the wind got stronger in the second period, but Southwick still spent little time in Bexhill's half as the home side passed the ball excellently.

Bexhill didn't have much luck in front of goal, however. One decent shot hit the goalkeeper on the shoulder and rebounded against the crossbar, while Craig McFarlane had three headers saved.

Southwick doubled their lead when Ross Myers smashed the ball home from a corner which Bexhill didn't defend properly and Jordan Groom scored a breakaway third goal.

Bexhill: Rose; Robertson, B. Trickett, McFarlane, Ottley; Gouet (Kidman), Holden, Giles (Wheeler), Cuddington, Cunnington; Barden (Shelton).

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