Bexhill Utd returned to winning ways with an impressive away performance at Newhaven on Saturday afternoon, a result that keeps the Pirates well in contention amongst the clubs grouped behind the leaders Haywards Heath Town.

Newhaven are another of those clubs who have had a strong start to the season and went into the game on the back of a 5-1 hammering of local rivals Seaford Town the week previous and with the confidence of that win in their sails they seemed to settle quicker in the opening exchanges.

It was the home side who chalked up the first goal with Ash Wadhams finishing well to give the Dockers the lead, but as so often with Bexhill this season it seemed to galvanise the Pirates and the attacking force of Jack Shonk, Charlie Curran, Will Saunders and Ryan Moir started to get a grip on the game.

Shonk came close after finding a way through the defence only to see his curled shot ping back off the underside of the crossbar, however on 35 minutes he made no mistake after being put through with a perfectly weighted pass from Curran, tucking the ball away into the bottom corner.

Bexhill’s relentless pressing of the Dockers back four was paying dividends and minutes later they took the lead after Saunders forced the Newhaven keeper to clear the ball out to Curran who spotted the goalie out of position and finished brilliantly from a distance.

It wasn’t all one way traffic though and at the other end of Fort Road Stef Akras was called upon to make a sharp save to preserve the lead going into half time.

Shortly after the break it was Moir who gave Bexhill a two goal advantage that pretty much settled the fixture there and then with a trademark twenty yard left foot strike that gave Roman Chiosa in the Dockers net no chance.

Moir also had great opportunity to grab another soon after but the keeper managed to smother his effort as he broke through the Newhaven back line.

With Kyle Holden covering the Pirates defensive unit with another all-action display of tireless running Bexhill managed the rest of the game fairly comfortably and headed back down the coast with the three points in the bag leapfrogging their hosts in the table.

On Saturday the Pirates face the toughest test when Haywards Heath Town bring their 100% league record to town but the Polegrove is no respecter of reputations or statistics and with a big crowd on the cards, Bexhill will relish the chance of bursting the visitors bubble.

Courtesy of Geoff Martin.