UPPER BEEDING 6-0 Bexhill Town
(2-0)

Being thrust into County League Management didn’t seem to bother Steve
Barber and Vic Gretton as their Beeding side demolished Bexhill 6-0 in the
first round of the league Cup on Saturday.

Barber welcomed back both of the Salter brothers as he shuffled his players
into a 4-4-2 line up with John Burgess and Paul Barker taking up anchor
roles in the middle of the park, leaving Jack Dineen free to link up with
the strike Partnership of Stuart Barry and Wayne Potbury.

Things did not go well at the start for the home side when they lost central
defender Dan Weaver with an ankle injury after just four minutes.

Barber reshuffled again slotting Mark Salter along side brother Gary at the
centre of the defence and bringing substitute Mat Doo onto the eft hand side
of midfield.

Bexhill looked the more likely to score in the opening stages, with Benji
Simes and Steve Cresswell lively up front and Beeding ‘keeper Robbie
Pockney, still carrying a niggling foot injury, was sold short on a couple
of back passes.

But Beeding suddenly clicked into life after 10 minutes. There passing and
movement was good as the ball was kept on the carpet as they retained the
ball for long periods.

Doo should have opened the scoring after twenty minutes heading wide at the
far post from six yards after a great run and cross from Barry. Dineen,
Potbury and Barry were creating havoc in the Bexhill defence but a
combination of erratic finishing and safe handling by Adam Taylor kept the
scoreline level.

That was until the 27th minute when good work from Barker fed Barry in the
inside right channel. The strikers’ darting run and delightful back heel
wrong footed the visitors defence and Dineen burst through to open the
scoring, although Taylor may well be disappointed that his low drive found
the bottom corner.

Beeding dominated the rest of the half, but had to wait until three minutes
into stoppage time at the end of the half to extend their lead.

Skipper Garry Beals’ left sided corner was flicked on and Potbury had time
to take a touch at the far post before rifling in an unstoppable drive from
the angle of the six yard box.

Bexhill were finished after seventy five seconds of the restart, Potbury
feeding Dineen through the middle as he ghosted in unchallenged to round
Taylor with ease.

Nine minutes later, and a repeat performance as the visitors defence again
failed to pick up Dineens’ clever run. This time Taylor forced him wide, but
Dineen made his finish from an acute angle look easy for his first hat trick
in Beedings’ colours.

The game was halted for half an hour after fifty nine minutes when Stuart
Barry fell awkwardly on his neck and referee Darren Eaton, rightly, called
for an ambulance.

Paul Rogers replaced Barry as the home side were forced to re-jig for the
third time. Rogers probably should have scored after being set up inside the
box by the impressive Chris Geogriou, but delayed his shot too long and
Danny Wild got back to make a challenge.

Doo made it five on sixty six minutes after Georgiou fed Potbury and the
striker drew Taylor before unselfishly squaring the ball for Doo to net
easily from six yards.

Georgiou made it 6-0 in the closing minute popping up from right back to
knock in Potburys’ low cross and finish off Beedings’ best display of the
season so far.

Stuart Barry was kept in Worthing Hospital overnight Saturday, as a
precaution, and is suffering with a severely torn shoulder muscle and
bruising.

Upper Beeding: Robbie Pockney; Chris Georgiou, Gary Salter, Dan Weaving
(Matt Doo 4), Gary Beal (Capt.); Paul Barker, John Burgess, Jack Dineen,
Mark Salter; Stuart Barry (Paul Rogers 59).