Bexhill nab last gasp leveller against high-flyers

Chris Rea was the unlikely hero, scoring his first goal since joining the Pirates in the summer to give Bexhill a 1-1 draw at home to Macron Store Southern Combination League Division One promotion hopefuls Wick.

It was a dramatic end to a good contest between Bexhill, who had scoring 11 goals and conceded none in their previous two games, and a Wick side which had won 11 and drawn one of its previous 13 league matches this season.

One of Bexhill’s three new signings, Liam Foster, made the starting XI, while the other two, Jack McLean and Zack McEniry, were among the substitutes. George Legg deputised for Dan Rose in the Bexhill goal.

Both sides struck the crossbar and fashioned several other opportunities during a goalless but entertaining first half at The Polegrove.

Corey Wheeler’s header from a Wayne Giles cross was tipped over by Wick goalkeeper Keelan Belcher. Minutes later at the other end, Legg beat out a Kieron Playle-Howard shot.

Wick went close to opening the scoring when Josh Irish cleverly flicked the ball past Legg, but Bexhill full-back Ben Cornelius scrambled back quickly to clear off the line. Playle-Howard’s shot was then parried by Legg, who bravely dived at the feet of Rob Wimble as he tried to follow up.

Bexhill were first to rattle the woodwork as Wheeler’s volley following a Giles corner from the left crashed against the crossbar. Curtis Beale couldn’t direct his header on target from the rebound.

Foster saw a left-foot shot pushed behind for a corner, from which central defender Lewis McGuigan headed just wide.

Then it was Wick’s turn to strike the frame of the goal. Cornelius couldn’t cut out Alex Kew’s cross from the away right and Irish struck the crossbar from around eight yards.

Wick made the better start to the second period and within 90 seconds of the resumption, Bexhill needed another goal-line clearance by Cornelius, this time from Playle-Howard’s powerful header at a corner, to keep them on level terms.