Common win cracking contest

It may have been more than a decade since the last competitive derby between the two local clubs, but the wait was made well worthwhile by a memorable evening's entertainment on Tuesday.

Little Common joint manager Mark Linch said: "I thought we were spot on. We played some good football in spells and we looked like a side fifth in the (Sussex Division Three) table."

Promotion-seeking Common got off to a dream start when Lewis Hole expertly lobbed home after Bexhill goalkeeper Dan Auer should have fielded a long ball over the top.

The visitors looked in complete control for the opening 20 minutes, but there were chances galore at either end during the final 25 minutes of the first half.

Talented striker Richard Piper somehow contrived to head wide of an empty net for Bexhill and play switched quickly to the other end where Hole bagged his second on 33 minutes.

Three minutes later Auer wrestled Jared Lusted to the ground following Roy Prodger's under-hit back pass, but the goalkeeper redeemed himself by saving Lusted's weakly struck penalty.

The Little Common striker made amends for that miss by driving home Stuart Weston's nicely-weighted through ball to make it 3-0 on the stroke of half time.

Third-bottom United rallied bravely after the break and Dave Carey had two goals ruled out for offside within five minutes of the re-start.

They finally did get one to count in the 52nd minute when Piper tucked away David Harris' cut-back.

The out-of-luck Carey completed a hat-trick of disallowed goals 20 minutes from time and seconds later Hole sealed a legitimate treble by clinically dispatching a pass from the classy Sam Thompson.

There was still time for Bexhill to have a fourth strike chalked off by the linesman's flag, Warren Parsons the frustrated party on this occasion.

United boss Bill Trivett commented: "We've still got defensive problems, but I said to them after the game 'I can't ask any more from you'."

There was an unusual twist to the match in that there were two sets of brothers - the Motes and the Parsons - playing on opposing teams.