Bexhill grab last gasp win

Andy Atkin scored an added time winner to give Bexhill United a 2-1 victory at home to Steyning Town. Picture courtesy Mark Killy

Andy Atkin struck in the 92nd minute as the Pirates celebrated a second successive Macron Store Sussex County Football League Division Two win with a 2-1 success at home to Steyning Town.

Bexhill made one change to the starting line-up from the side which defeated Rustington the previous weekend, with manager Marc Munday returning from suspension in place of Craig Ottley.

On a poor pitch at The Polegrove, there was little goalmouth incident during a first half which was something of a stalemate. Lee Early fired harmlessly wide of the near post for Steyning with half time approaching.

Bexhill brought on Kevin Barden for Jamie Morgan during the break and made a positive start to the second period. Chris Cumming-Bart sent a low shot into the side-netting from an acute angle.

But the hosts rather gifted Steyning a 50th minute lead. A misunderstanding between two Bexhill defenders allowed Lewis Levoi to square from the right for the impressive Kris Harding to apply a cool finish.

Steyning played some good football at times and had a chance to double their advantage 20 minutes into the second half, but Kerry Parsons’s free header from a right wing free kick bounced up into the hands of home goalkeeper Yankuba Camara.

Bexhill equalised in the 73rd minute when Andy Garman’s half-hit drive across the face of goal from the right-hand side of the box was turned in from close range by Scott McDonald.

With Munday dominant in the air, Bexhill looked the more likely winners thereafter. Garman’s angled drive flashed just wide of the far post in between Camara comfortably clutching a Harding shot and repelling Early’s long range effort at the other end.

Bexhill won it in the nick of time with a splendid goal scored and created by the team’s two senior figures. After Josh Elliott-Noye won possession, McDonald sent over an inviting cross from the left for Atkin to score with a diving header.

Bexhill: Camara, G. Aston, Munday, Elliott-Noye, Clifford, J. Aston, Garman, Cumming-Bart, McDonald, Atkin, Morgan (Barden HT). Subs not used: Ottley, White.