Given the weight of expectation on both teams full credit must be given for the adventurous and expansive way both sides played and the good spirit, on the whole, that the match was played in. Two close , hard fought battles over the season have left a mutual respect between the two sides and have been a great advert for the division.

On Saturday it was Steyning who came away with a larger smile on the faces , having turned round a two goal half time deficit with an excellent second half performance, topped off with an 87th minute equaliser from Alfie Gritt, adding to the penalty he had notched earlier in the half. On the balance of play and overall chances created a draw was probably just about a fair result and it was enough to keep Bexhill 4 points behind Steyning with 2 games left to play. Although Bexhill will be frustrated by losing a two goal lead, and hitting the bar with a last minute free kick. Steynings relief at the result will be tempered by the frustration that they carved out a number of clear cut opportunities over the course of the afternoon that they possibly should have capitalised on even more.

In front of a healthy 243 at the Shooting Field both team started in a pretty lively fashion and both were creating decent half chances. Levoi was lucky to get away with an early rather reckless challenge, that should have brought a yellow, and possibly a red for the manner of the tackle. Relief all round as a stern ticking off was issued. The experienced and powerful Atkin was proving a handful up top for the Pirates bruising his way to a couple of half decent chances, and Gathern blocked well a goal bound shot from a knock down. Meanwhile attacking the changing room end (it doesn’t have a proper name) Steyning were looking dangerous and Myers flashed across the goal when racing clear and Clark got in to some dangerous positions on the right delivering some good crosses, one which Fair got on the end of , leaping well to force a fine save from the impressive Rose in the Bexhill goal. The weather was very changeable and it felt like four seasons in one day as we encountered, sunshine, blustery win , rain and hail all in the first half.

The game burst in to life in the 20 minutes, a bit of midfield ping pong, slightly at odds with the neat passing carried out by both teams, was followed with the ball falling to Shonk. From 30 yards he flashed a stunning dipping drive over the head of JJ and in to the net. 1-0 to the visitors almost out nowhere. The home crowd were stunned. The Barrowmen fought back well, driven on by a vociferous crowd, for many of which the Hepworth local ales were starting to loosen the vocal chords. Fitzpatrick was forced off with a head injury, to be replaced by the mercurial Sabino as Murphy switched Town to a 4-3-3 formation from 3-5-2. Soon after Gritt had a low drive cleared off the line shortly before half time, and just as the sandwiches were being laid out for the visiting committee, Bexhill shocked the faithful with another goal right before the break. Town failed to deal with a deep cross and Foster drove home low under the advancing JJ from an angle. 2-0 to Bexhill. A scoreline that seemed a bit harsh on Steyning , but only themselves to blame after conceding such a sloppy goal.

Steyning came out for the second half and set their stall out for the next 45 minutes by starting to dominate. Faber and Haulkham were winning the ball back superbly in midfield and the back two of Levoi and Gathern were given plenty of space to step out with the ball as Bexhill sat back, leaving a single man up top. Sabino was on great form, playing on the right, linking play, dazzling with his Brazilian magic and causing Towns main threat and he who went close as he raced clear and Rose did well to parry his thumping shot. However it didn’t take long to pull one back. On 55 minutes a penalty was awarded for handball , as a shot was blocked by the arm of a Bexhill defender. Gritt calmly dispatched the kick with a lot of pressure on his shoulders. Game on.

Suddenly Bexhill looked ragged as the crowd drove on the team. Sabino went close with a free kick and won a number of free kicks in advanced areas. Bexhill noticeably started to tire. Bacon was introduced to replace Fair to add extra firepower and fresh legs. It was Bacon who nodded over from a Sabino cross, and shortly after Levoi nodded wide from a set piece, and the lively Myers headed straight at Rose from a deep Clark cross when he should have done better. Surely the equaliser was going to come? Radmore was brought on to make it four up front and Town become increasingly desperate. Just as it seemed like it might not appear Radmore wriggled free on the left and delivered a firm low left footed cross, and Gritt was there to nip in front of the static defence to prod home. Dramatic scenes. 2-2.

However the excitement was not finished, as Bexhill almost immediately found themselves with a free kick just outside the box on the left. Actually wrongly awarded as Levoi played the ball in a sliding challenge. The dangerous Shonk fired in a terrific bending and dipping free kick that cannoned off the underside of the bar and Town hooked the rebound to safety. A huge let off for Town. Referee Barnard called an end to proceedings soon after and we could all catch a breath. Back in to the busy bar for a few cheeky bevvies and trying to work out exactly what the result means for both teams. Still trying to work that out as we speak!!!

A terrific afternoons entertainment for a great sized crowd. Well done to both teams for their part in the game, in fact for their whole season so far, and honours even probably about right. Now we look ahead to a cracking Easter weekend with a cup final v Wick FC at East Preston on Good Friday morning at 11am, followed by a league game with our friends at Worthing United on Monday morning at 11am, where Town can secure at least second place in the league with a victory. Exciting times.

Town: Banasco-Zaragoza, Clark, Maher, Gathern, Fitzpatrick, Levoi, Faber, Haulkham, Myers, Gritt, Fair Subs used: Sabino, Radmore, Bacon, Not used Parazo, Hunter.

Attendance : 243