After the shock 8-3 drubbing at the hands of Eastbourne Utd last weekend, Bexhill Utd got back on track on Saturday afternoon with victory over struggling Lancing.

The Utd boss Jay Skinner-Swain had made it clear that he expected an immediate reaction from his players but made his own intentions known with major changes to the starting line up.

Toby Whiteside was given an opportunity between the sticks whilst Mardy Ovenden, Charlie Scarles and Will Saunders were all given starts, the Pirates also being boosted with the return of skipper Richie Welch to the eleven.

Ryan Moir was at it from the off, marauding down the left flank and it was his opening goal from a Theo Coombs through ball that showed exactly what Skinner-Swain and the Pirates faithful had been hoping to see.

Just minutes later it was Moir’s quick thinking that set up Saunders who turned his defender and managed to squeeze his shot past the Lancers keeper.

The Pirates could possibly have had more goals in the first half as they pressed hard, Whiteside looking assured in goal and Welch stamping his authority on the defensive lines.

Lancing did try to break out and get a foothold in the game but there was no real drama and the Pirates went in at half time a well-deserved two goals to the good.

Immediately after the re-start Bexhill killed off the game as a contest, Coombs did exceptionally well to hold the ball out wide, rode a couple of challenges, and crossed for Scarles to finish.

Relentless pressure from the Pirates forced an error in the Lancing defence and it was Scarles again who was on hand to exploit the situation to grab his second and Bexhill’s fourth of the afternoon,

Any chance that the hosts would take their foot off the gas was dispelled when Max Hollobone whipped in a free kick and Callum Brand rose highest to head home number five.

Skinner-Swain then sent on fresh legs and one of those substitutes, Jaan Stanley, got on the end of a great ball from Dale Penn and unselfishly set up Scarles for his hat-trick.

It was a magnificent team performance from the Pirates in front of another two hundred plus crowd and sets them up nicely for a busy run of home games starting this Wednesday evening when Peacehaven & Telscombe visit the Polegrove, ko 7.30pm.

Courtesy of Geoff Morris.