The games come thick and fast at the Polegrove at the moment and despite three matches in eight days, and a shed load of rain, the pitch had held up fine and it was game on for Bexhill Utd and the visitors from Crawley Down Gatwick.
Significantly both Charlie Playford and Kyle Holden were back for the Pirates adding some grit and energy to the line up. As the sun also tried it’s best to make an appearance there were high hopes that Bexhill would be right back at it after a disappointing display against in-form Peacehaven in midweek.
The first 45 minutes passed with little or no significance to report. Both sides struggled to get any real passages of play together and neither keeper had much to really trouble them. When the whistle went for the break it was probably the highlight up to that point.
Bexhill have established a bit of reputation for coming on strong in the second half and they seem to enjoy attacking the Brockley Road end in front of their hardcore support in front the clubhouse.
It only took a few minutes for the Pirates to get back into their work with Andy Corrigan squaring a fine ball across the box which Playford latched onto and smashed home.
It really was the goal that Bexhill needed to settle things down and set them up for the rest of the match.
Just after the hour came the strike that would cement the contribution of a club legend into the Pirates history books for the future.
Playford fed a ball out to Ryan Moir who bombed his way down the flank and set up a chance for Jack Shonk, on a plate, that he happily put away for his 150th goal in Pirates colours.
Five minutes later it was Moir again, who by now was having a field day, racing down the left leaving the defence in his wake before setting up Playford for his second of the afternoon.
The visitors gave the home side a reminder they were still in the game soon after the restart when Harvey Burgess finished well from just inside the box to reduce the deficit to 3-1.
However, any hopes of a comeback and a photo finish were killed off when Moir delivered his third assist of the game, Theo Coombs volleying home at the far post.
It was a lovely parting shot from Coombs who is now away from the club for a couple of weeks competing for the British Virgin Islands in the U17 World Cup Qualifiers, an incredible experience to come and tribute to the youth development policy at the club.
The win sets the Pirates up nicely for the next piece of history at the Polegrove, the first overseas visitors from Guernsey arrive on Wednesday evening, ko 7.30pm, for what looks like being a tasty encounter under the lights.
Courtesy of Geoff Morris.