Bexhill joint boss 'massively proud' of players

Little Common midfielder Harry Saville holds off Bexhill United's Wayne Giles. Picture by Simon Newstead

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Bexhill United Football Club joint manager Ryan Light was 'massively proud' of his players in the Boxing Day derby against Little Common.

The Pirates led for more than hour before Common struck twice in nine second half minutes to clinch a 2-1 victory in a very watchable Macron Store Southern Combination Football League Division One affair.

"I'm obviously disappointed to have lost the game, but massively proud of the performance," Light said. "People have come here and seen two good sides on a bobbly pitch and I thought we gave a really good account of ourselves."

Light disagreed with the decision to award Common a penalty which led to their equaliser. The referee, incidentally, also gave a spot-kick against Bexhill the previous time he took charge of them against Storrington in November.

Little Common forward Jamie Crone is closely watched by Bexhill United defenders Ashley Kidman and Kyle Holden. Picture by Simon Newstead

"The game was turned on the usual refereeing decisions," Light continued. "(Bexhill left-back) Craig Ottley stood still, and the lad (Common midfielder Harry Saville) ran into him and dropped on the floor. I think at worst it's obstruction and an indirect free kick; it's a very soft penalty.

"The penalty changes the game because you lose the momentum. I thought we were quite comfortable at 1-0. Second half they weren't really creating many chances and I thought we probably could've seen a 1-0 out.

"The penalty deflated us a little bit and players strayed a little bit from their roles at 1-1. We're disappointed to concede from a set-piece (Common's second goal was a Dan Cruikshank header at a corner); historically we don't concede from corners.