Bexhill clinch place in final

Danny Turner’s cracking strike in the dying seconds gave the Pirates a 1-0 victory over Oakwood in a Sussex County Football League Division Two Challenge Cup semi-final.

A long Bexhill free kick was headed out by Oakwood only as far as Turner, who arrowed a superbly struck drive into the bottom corner from outside the box for a goal that will live far longer in the memory than the game itself.

Defences were very much on top on a chilly night at The Oval, home of Eastbourne United AFC. Neither goalkeeper was required to make a save during a first half in which most of the play took place in Bexhill territory as Oakwood enjoyed the benefit of the cold easterly wind.

The boot was on the other foot in the second period as Bexhill had the conditions in their favour, but goalscoring opportunities were still in short supply. The best chance came when Oakwood goalkeeper Jess Grimstone made a fine reflex save from Jacob Shelton’s close range header.

Extra-time looked to be on the cards as the stalemate continued until Turner struck in the nick of time. Bexhill’s reward is a showdown against Eastbourne United AFC or Loxwood, who meet in the second semi-final tonight.

Bexhill: Tanner, Earley, P. Stevens, Lewis, Richardson, K. Smith, Salvidge, D. Stevens, Shelton, Cooper, Jarvis (Turner). Subs not used: D. Smith, Burton, Tudor.