Bexhill target historic cup win

Bexhill United manager Kenny McCreadie is optimistic of creating a slice of club history.
Action from Bexhill United's 3-1 win away to Steyning Town on the final day of the club's league season. Picture by Derek MartinAction from Bexhill United's 3-1 win away to Steyning Town on the final day of the club's league season. Picture by Derek Martin
Action from Bexhill United's 3-1 win away to Steyning Town on the final day of the club's league season. Picture by Derek Martin

The Pirates will take on Loxwood in the Sussex County Football League Division Two Challenge Cup final today (Monday) seeking to win a senior county knockout competition for the first time since 1974.

McCreadie was a wee schoolboy up in Scotland when Bexhill clinched the Sussex RUR Charity Cup in 1974. Back then the club was playing under the name of Bexhill Town and Monday’s match will be the first senior county final since Town merged with Bexhill AAC to form Bexhill United in 2002.

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McCreadie said: “If I name a strong side, we’ve got every chance of winning the cup. It would be good for the supporters and the committee, and it would soften the blow from the league.”

Bexhill finished five positions and 25 points behind third-placed Loxwood in the league. Loxwood also won both league fixtures between the clubs, scoring five goals in each. But anything can happen, as they say, in one-off games and Bexhill’s availability is likely to be much better than at many points during the campaign.

“We’ve got experience,” continued McCreadie. “It’s their first final and first promotion into Division One. They will be more nervous than us. If we turn up and play our football, we’ve got every chance.”

A number of Bexhill’s players were part of the Hailsham Town side managed by McCreadie which lost the 2011/12 final to a late penalty against East Preston.

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“We’re looking forward to it,” McCreadie added. “It’s a cup final and we must prepare properly. I’m happy for the youngsters like Kasey Smith and Jacob Shelton playing in their first senior final. That will put them in good stead.”

The match will take place at Haywards Heath Town FC with a 3pm kick-off.