Bexhill boss criticises 23-day gap in fixtures

Bexhill United joint manager Nigel Kane has criticised the 23-day gap between the football club's last two games of the season.
Bexhill United pair Gordon Cuddington and Connor Robertson sandwich an East Preston opponent during last weekend's 2-2 draw. Picture courtesy Mark KillyBexhill United pair Gordon Cuddington and Connor Robertson sandwich an East Preston opponent during last weekend's 2-2 draw. Picture courtesy Mark Killy
Bexhill United pair Gordon Cuddington and Connor Robertson sandwich an East Preston opponent during last weekend's 2-2 draw. Picture courtesy Mark Killy

The Pirates drew 2-2 away to East Preston in their penultimate Macron Store Southern Combination Football League Division One fixture last weekend, but will have to wait until Easter Monday (April 17) to play their final match, away to Little Common.

Kane said: “I’ve never known anything like it. You normally have a backlog of fixtures at this stage of the season; not a situation where you’re crying out to play.

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“They league need to take a look at the way they organise the fixtures. I don’t think it’s acceptable that any side is expected to play a game at the end of March and the next game in the second half of April.”

Kane believes that Bexhill played too many midweek fixtures early in the campaign. They contested six midweek evening games (two in the league and four in the cups), plus one on the August Bank Holiday Monday in the first three months of the term.

Bexhill also haven’t had a single game postponed all season.

Kane says that Bexhill will try to arrange a practice match, possibly against a development squad from a local club, to help fill the void between fixtures.

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They go into their extended break from action lying eighth in the table, although the teams just behind them have games in hand, having picked up seven points from a possible nine of late.

Corey Wheeler tussles for possession against East Preston. Picture courtesy Mark KillyCorey Wheeler tussles for possession against East Preston. Picture courtesy Mark Killy
Corey Wheeler tussles for possession against East Preston. Picture courtesy Mark Killy

“We wanted to try and accumulate as many points as possible and finish as high as possible, and 13 points from our last seven games is almost promotion form,” added Kane.

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Corey Wheeler tussles for possession against East Preston. Picture courtesy Mark KillyCorey Wheeler tussles for possession against East Preston. Picture courtesy Mark Killy
Corey Wheeler tussles for possession against East Preston. Picture courtesy Mark Killy

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