New Bexhill boss enjoys comeback win

Despite the dramatic comeback, the harsh reality remains that he has much to do if he is to transform the club's ailing fortunes.

United looked poor in the first half and, but for an inspired display by goalkeeper Adam Taylor, would have been out of the game by half time against what has to be said was at best modest opposition from the Mid Sussex League.

They showed great character, however, to fight back and book a mouthwatering Sussex Intermediate Cup fourth round tie at home to holders Eastbourne Borough reserves.

Monk said: "We fully deserved it. We were much the better side in the second half. I made one or two adjustments to the team but the biggest difference was the attitude of the lads who are prepared to listen and prepared to work. There were a lot of positives."

The biting but only moderately-strong easterly breeze seemed to have more of a bearing on the contest than one would have thought as all five goals went in the same net.

Old Varndeanians, who played Bexhill in Division Two of the Sussex League back in the 1970s, were first to enjoy the benefit of the conditions and had little trouble in opening up a 2-0 interval lead.

Dave Bridges had already forced a smart low save and Nick Emmerson's cross struck the far post and rebounded into Taylor's arms before Bridges drove home from just inside the box after 12 minutes.

Bexhill were convinced that Dom Bigg's header hit the stanchion but the referee adjudged that the ball struck the post and the visitors then bossed the remainder of the half.

Emmerson was denied by Taylor's outstretched palm and then his feet either side of a fabulous tip over from Simon Natarasan's angled shot. The keeper was finally beaten again seven minutes from half time by a Ryan Mason shot from the edge of the box that slithered under his body.

But United came out a different side in the second half and pulled one back within 10 minutes. Conrad Sparkes slipped the ball through and East India Tandoori man of the match Alex Hesmer nipped in between the centre-half and goalkeeper to tap home.

Twenty minutes from time Ollie Leigh delivered a typically testing ball which Dickie Anderson dispatched into the back of the net with a diving header and five minutes later Hesmer provided a similar finish to another Leigh centre.

Bexhill are back in Sussex League action on Saturday December 13 for the home match against Upper Beeding, kick-off 1.45pm.