Ahead of the end of the cricket season, when Bexhill Utd can at last get back to playing home games at the famous Polegrove Stadium, the Pirates found themselves back on the road at the weekend with a trip towards the Surrey border and a league fixture at Roffey.

Despite the heavy overnight rain and a pre kick off deluge, the lovely Theatre of Trees ground looked in great shape and as the teams came out onto the pitch, did so in some glorious sunshine.

It was Bexhill who got off to a storming start, Charlie Curran with a great chance to score in the opening minute when the ball broke kindly for him in the Boars box but that opportunity went begging.

However, the Pirates did take the lead on 17 minutes through an own goal from a corner. Bexhill kept up their fierce opening pace and on 25 minutes another set piece lead to a second goal for the visitors.

Ryan Moir’s corner into the box saw Jack Shonk react quickest to poke the ball home and although Bexhill were good value for their lead the game was turned upside down in a crazy eight minute spell.

Roffey pushed on and exploited the space down the Bexhill left to pull a goal back after 34 minutes, then preceded to pretty much repeat the same move to level the scores a couple of minutes later.

As half time approached the hosts weren’t done just yet and three minutes before the break despite a great save from Stef Akras, Lui Edwards got a second chance and netted to put the Boars in front.

It had been an extraordinary seesaw of a half of football but having spun the momentum around it was Roffey who came out firing on all cylinders for the second period and they looked to have scored a fourth just after the hour mark but for a remarkable goal line clearance.

Akras then made a fine one on one save to keep the visitors in the match but the game was wrapped up on 70 minutes as a deflected shot from Jordan Mase slid into the net.

Bexhill tried to freshen things up by making a few changes but it was all to no avail and their unbeaten league start was at a disappointing end against a Roffey side who in the end were worthy winners.

Courtesy of Geoff Martin