It was an historic night at the Polegrove on Wednesday evening for the long awaited visit of Guernsey, the weather being throughout the day and some winter sunshine and a stiff breeze helping to drain the pitch, it was game on.

The Pirates were without Theo Coombs, on international duty with the British Virgin Islands Under 17 squad in their World Cup Qualifier, otherwise a full squad for Jay Skinner-Swain to choose from.

The Green Lions are on a powerful run, arriving with just one defeat from their last eleven games and arrived from the airport full of confidence. It was important that Bexhill got a strong start but it was the visitors who stamped their authority on the game from the first minute.

With the Pirates pinned back in their own area Guernsey mounted wave after wave of attacks, a couple of clear cut chances were missed and they saw one header ping off the post, ten minutes in however they were in front when Sam Murray rose to easily head home a fine cross.

Six minutes later Murray had the simplest of tap in’s in make it 2-0, Bexhill had given themselves a mountain to climb in the early phase of the game.

A feared deluge of goals didn’t materialise as the Pirates began to put some moves together themselves and on the half hour Charlie Scales had a chance to pull one back but his shot sailed wide.

It gave Bexhill some encouragement and they started to grow into the game. A series of corners and a decent chance for Jack Shonk came to nothing but it was pressure and Guernsey would have been pleased to go in at the break with their two goal lead intact.

As the second half got underway Bexhill produced their best period of the game. Attacking the Brockley Road end a fine cross from the right found Dale Penn in space but he just failed to connect with his head, a goal for the hosts could well have tipped the balance.

On the hour mark came a pivotal and controversial incident of the kind that really turns football matches inside out. Shonk broke clear and was heading for goal only to brought down by the Guernsey keeper Addison, the referee deciding to opt for a yellow card are consultation with his assistant much to the wrath of the home supporters.

To rub salt into the wounds the resulting free kick saw Shonk rattle a trademark twenty five yard effort off the crossbar, the feeling it was going to be one of those nights for the Pirates.

Bexhill keeper Toby Whiteside pulled off two fantastic saves whilst ten minutes from time Callum Brand’s header for the Pirates hit the post, followed by Will Saunders having a goal ruled out for offside.

It was very much last chance saloon for the hosts but the visitors made the points safe on 87, Le Lacheur latching onto a rebound to net past Whiteside. A fourth from Wallace in injury time maybe flattered the visitors a touch, a game that was won and lost in the opening exchanges.

The Pirates are at home again on Saturday afternoon (ko 3pm) with a league match against Roffey and a chance to get themselves back on track.

Courtesy of Geoff Morris.