United still don't feel at home

BEXHILL United are the only team in all three divisions of the Sussex County League still searching for their first home point.

But manager Bill Trivett felt that fortune frowned upon his embattled side as it was beaten for the third time at The Polegrove already this season.

He said: "We didn't feel it was a fair result because we thought we had enough chances to have won the game."

They ran into a visiting goalkeeper in inspired form, however, as they slumped to third-bottom of Sussex Division Three.

The away custodian pulled off a wonder save from Mark Funnell who seemed certain to score and another fine stop to repel a left-foot volley by Dave Carey.

Other chances went begging as well and, despite United playing with three forwards and throwing everything at their opponents during the final 20 minutes, their winless run was extended to five games.

The damage was done by two goals in the space of eight minutes either side of the hour mark which put Horsham-based Forest 3-1 up.

Harwood scored the first of these from a 54th minute counter-attack and Mitchell-Harris gave them the two-goal cushion following a cross.

Will Dunstall pulled one back with a cracking header into the top corner from a Warren Parsons corner, but the all-important equaliser proved elusive.

Dunstall also scored United's first goal in the 41st minute, crashing a left-foot volley in off the underside of the crossbar after another centre by Parsons. Harwood earlier opened the scoring for seventh-placed Forest.

United's preparations weren't helped by Gary Hempe having to pull out at short notice after going down with food poisoning the previous night and Gordon Cuddington having to work.

This meant a debut for Billy Trivett, son of the manager, who had to be called back after beginning the journey to Wick with the reserves.

Trivett added: "There are a lot of positives. We played good football to get the chances, but we didn't finish them off."

Bexhill: G. Fitzgerald, S. Fitzgerald, May, Rimmer, S. Mote, Trivett (R. Mote), Parsons, Funnell, Harris, Carey, Dunstall. Subs not used: Winfield, Auer.