The sun was shining but there was a sharp edge to the wind as Bexhill Utd welcomed Wick to the Polegrove on national Non League Day, the weather being a vital component in the 90 minutes to come.

Both the Pirates and their opponents sit in the middle ranks of the Southern Combination Premier Division as the season heads towards it’s final weeks.

Despite that there was definitely plenty to play for as this would be the final home game of the season at their seafront HQ and with a bumper crowd of 268 through the gates the team wanted to go out in style.

The first half was very competitive and with Wick having the wind advantage there was plenty to keep the Bexhill defence busy but with Dale Penn and Callum Brand having formed a solid partnership in the middle, there was plenty of action for Finn Holter but no real dramas.

The stand out save of the half came at the other end when Keelan Belcher pulled off a stunner to deny Charlie Curran just after the half hour mark. Belcher had plenty more work to do as Bexhill wound up the pressure but the sides went in at half time locked in at 0-0.

With the second half wind behind them the Pirates were kicking towards their favoured Brockley Road end and it didn’t take them long to open the scoring. A minute in, a corner was swung across and Brand nodded it down for Will Saunders to net.

That goal opened up the game, Ryan Moir and Curran finding more ball out on the left flank and through the centre, causing real problems for the Dragons back four.

It seemed only a matter of time before more Pirates goals arrived and so it proved although Wick kept battling to get back into the game.

Twenty minutes from time they thought they had but were denied by a moment of brilliance from Holter, a save right out of the top drawer.

The Pirates killed off the game minutes later as Moir latched onto a ball from Jack Shonk and calmly tucked his shot away. With ten minutes left substitute Max Hollobone picked up a ball and rammed it through a knot of players on the half volley to round off another Polegrove season on a high.

Dale Penn was named Man of the Match whilst Charlie Playford picked up the Player of the Month award from the Pirates fans.

Importantly, £300 was raised for Bexhill’s Non League Day partners the Sussex Heart Charity and their important work installing defibrillators, generous contributions from the Wick players within that total.

Next Saturday Bexhill head to title challengers Steyning Town (ko3pm) before the local derby at Little Common on Easter Monday (ko 11am).

Courtesy of Geoff Martin.