Bexhill Utd made it back to back wins in the Southern Combination Premier Division on Saturday afternoon with a fine 2-0 victory at Seaford Town.

A good sized travelling support made their way across to the other side of Eastbourne for the 2pm kick off, the start time brought forward due to an on-going issue with the use of the Crouch ground.

Pirates boss Jay Skinner-Swain found his defensive resources stretched once again with Callum Baird called up for central duties alongside Dale Penn and Max Hollobone.

The visitors were quick out of the block and for the first twenty minutes applied some serious pressure to the Seaford lines. Nathan Crabb, who would prove to be a handful throughout the afternoon, broke through on a couple of occasions only to be prevented by some fine defending as he bore down on goal.

Both Jack Shonk and Charlie Playford went close with headers as Theo Coombs found himself with plenty of opportunities to run at the defence and whip the ball into the box.

It took them a while to get going, but around the mid-point of the first half Town started to create a few chances of their own, but with Penn marshalling the lines and Stef Akras in goal alert to any signs of danger, the sides went in level at the break.

It’s always difficult to work out if the Crouch slope, which runs side to side rather than end to end, favours any particular side during a game but regardless Bexhill came out for the second half with some real energy and purpose and it felt like a goal was coming.

Shonk and Charlie Curran both went close, but it wasn’t until the hour mark when Shonk played in Crabb and he rode the challenge of the defender to slot the ball past the keeper into the bottom corner.

It was no less than the Pirates deserved for their pressure and a couple of minutes later the lead was doubled as Shonk got his name onto the scoresheet, latching onto a Curran through ball and finishing in style.

Bexhill continued to press forward and create chances but as the clock wound down it was the home side who looked the more likely to score but the Pirates defence held firm to protect the clean sheet.

Penn picked up the MOTM award for a combative and disciplined display from start to finish, a mention going also to his defensive partner Baird for stepping into the breech and putting in a fine shift.

At the other end of the park Crabb has found a rich vein of form which has helped the Pirates hang around ninth place in the table, handily placed as they head into the festive period.

This coming Saturday Bexhill head back to the Polegrove to face AFC Varndeanians (ko 3pm) and as a seasonal thank you to the supporters the club have made a special offer of ‘Festive Football For A Fiver’, followed by the Christmas party in the clubhouse after the game which all are welcome for.

Courtesy of Geoff Morris.