Bexhill beaten in Vase clash

Josh Elliott-Noye plays a pass for Bexhill United against AFC Croydon Athletic. Picture courtesy Mark Killy

The Pirates went down 2-0 at the hands of AFC Croydon Athletic and finished the match with 10 men following the late dismissal of Jack Woodward.

Bexhill manager Marc Munday said: “They deserved the win and overall we were poor. We were really poor first half and we just didn’t even look like we had started.

“After a roasting at half time we were probably the better side by a long shot in the second half, but without creating.”

Croydon’s two pacy wide players caused Bexhill plenty of problems during the first half, but it was from a corner that the visitors opened the scoring on 28 minutes.

“We’ve conceded from so many set-pieces this year and it’s really something I’m not happy with,” said Munday.

Croydon - who play in the Southern Counties East League Premier Division - doubled their advantage eight minutes later with a close range finish after Bexhill failed to clear.

Bexhill did improve after the break in a match played at Hailsham Town FC with The Polegrove being used for cricket, but barely fashioned a chance.

Woodward, who came on for the injured Andy Garman in the first half, was shown a straight red card for a tackle having been on the receiving end of a similarly bad challenge moments earlier.

The midfielder would have been substituted because of the injury sustained from the tackle on him had Bexhill not already used all of their three permitted replacements.

Bexhill: Shaw; Masters, G. Aston, Elliott-Noye, Ottley (Cooper); Garman (Woodward), J. Aston, Munday, N. Tudor; Cumming-Bart, Wooller (Phipps).

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