Bexhill United 0-3 East Grinstead Town

By Geoff Martin
Emirates FA Cup · Saturday 8 August 2026

“Once a Pirate, always a Pirate.”

After two fine wins away from home in their opening league fixtures Bexhill went into their FA Cup clash with East Grinstead Town in good spirits.

The Pirates had been drawn at home for the cup game but due to the historic ground sharing agreement with the cricket club at the Polegrove there was no choice but to switch the venue some forty miles away up the A22.

So, onto the magic of the FA Cup. The one thing you do not want to do in an all-or-nothing game is concede an early goal, and that is what Bexhill did when a decent save from Finn Holter only pushed the ball out wide. East Grinstead recycled it and crossed for Kieron Pamment to finish comfortably.

Bexhill were finding it hard to get their pressing game going in the heat against well organised opposition. On 20 minutes the Pirates carved out their first clear chance when Charlie Playford headed over. Minutes later the Wasps made it two when a catastrophic mistake at the back gifted a chance to Dan Perry.

On the half hour Max Hollobone almost halved the arrears when his effort crashed back off the bar. Just before the break Playford got in behind but could not find the target.

Second half and the next goal would be crucial at two nil, but it was East Grinstead who tightened their grip. On the hour Pamment got on the end of a well-weighted cross for three nil and the game was done.

There were few further chances but the Wasps comfortably saw the match out to cruise into the next round.

First published in Dugout News, Issue 001, August 2026. Republished here in full.