Bexhill hit Common for six

The Pirates plundered two goals kicking into the strong wind during the first half and four more with the conditions in their favour after the break to cruise into the semi-finals of the Sussex County Football League Division Two Challenge Cup.

It took just 13 minutes for Bexhill to open their account. Common failed to deal with a free kick into their penalty area and the ball dropped for Tristan Jarvis to fire into the net with his left foot.

Jacob Shelton went close to a second with a shot which curled just wide, but Bexhill did double their advantage in first half stoppage time. Jamie Salvidge’s shot from just outside the box took a slight deflection and Common goalkeeper Ritchie Gray couldn’t prevent it from crossing the line.

Any hopes Common had of mounting a comeback after the break were extinguished by three goals in the space of eight minutes either side of the hour. In-form teenager Shelton turned on the edge of the box and buried his shot into the corner of the net to make it 3-0 in the 54th minute.

Moments later it was four as Gray misjudged Connor Burton’s left wing cross on the wind and could only watch it drift into the net. Bexhill’s fifth was the pick of the bunch - a Jarvis free kick from fully 35 yards which Gray got a hand to but couldn’t prevent from heading into the top corner.

Bexhill completed the rout in the 89th minute when substitute Craig Ottley pounced on another mistake in the Common defence and beat Gray with a delightful lob. Bexhill will face Oakwood or Westfield in the last four later in the season.

Elsewhere tonight, Rye United were left kicking their heels after their scheduled Sussex County League Division One match at home to Shoreham was postponed because the visitors were unable to raise a side.