Tasty treat served up by town rivals
LITTLE COMMON 2
BEXHILL UNITED 3
The Commoners took the honours
in both Sussex County Football
League Division Three
matches between the two clubs during
April.
But this time it was Bexhill's
turn to earn local bragging rights
after a niggly Hastings & District FA
Senior Cup preliminary round tie.
Their manager Paul Tuppenney
said: "We could have been out of it
at half time, but we seem to get
stronger as the game goes on and
the lads did themselves proud
again."
Little Common fielded the same
starting line-up as that which beat
Forest 6-1 on Saturday, while Dan
Cruickshank replaced the unavailable
Peter Heritage in United's only
change.
Adie Kettyles and Jared Lusted
had spurned gilt-edged chances for
Common and Warren Parsons went
just too high for Bexhill during the
opening 20 minutes.
The deadlock was broken in
freak fashion on 25 minutes,
Richard Anderson's cross from the
left against his former club sailing
over visiting goalkeeper Aaron
Heritage and into the net.
But Will Dunstall got United
back on level terms within eight
minutes of the second half getting
under way by converting Nicky
Stiles' through ball.
Dunstall went close for Bexhill
and Hole did likewise for Common
before David Harris prodded
United into a 69th minute lead.
Parsons was shown his second
yellow card for kicking out at Chris
Steward two minutes later and
Common felt Tuppenney should
have gone too after Stuart Weston
was left flat out on the floor.
Josh Brown then struck the post
for the home side and Kettyles' follow-
up was cleared off the line by
ex-Commoner Kingsley Parsons.
Stiles hit an upright at the other
end prior to the dangerous Dunstall
giving Bexhill a two-goal cushion
by nodding Harris' 84th minute
centre into an empty net.
Weston gave Common hope by
bundling in their 90th minute second
goal and Hole flashed a trademark
left-footed effort just wide in
stoppage time.
But United, with Tuppenney
outstanding at the back, held on to
secure a semi-final trip to Division
One neighbours Sidley United on a
date to be announced.
Common joint manager Mark
Linch commented: "They took
their chances better than us and
they just seemed that bit more passionate."
Little Common: Shoesmith, Lister, Anderson
(Quinn), Weston, S. Mote, Collins, Brown,
Matthews (B. Eldridge), Hole, Kettyles,
Lusted (Steward). Sub not used: C. Eldridge.
Bexhill: A. Heritage, W. Parsons, Hempe, K.
Parsons, Cruickshank, Cuddington, Harris,
Quigley, Tuppenney, Winfield (N. Stiles),
Dunstall. Subs not used: J. Stiles, Kelly.