It was a disappointing day for Icklesham Casuals last Saturday May 22, with the 1st team going down 5-4 to Division One runners-up Bexhill Town in a thrilling game at the recreation ground. The result which confirms the side’s relegation to Division Two for next season.
The performance in the first half was one of the best of the season with Sean Baker putting Icklesham ahead from the penalty spot in the 23rd minute after Steffan Davies was brought down when clean through. Phil Badrock doubled the lead on the half hour and then made it 3-0 just before the break.
The one thing Icklesham did not want to do was let Bexhill back into the game early in the second half but with barely a minute gone the arrears were reduced. A second Bexhill goal followed at 55 minutes when a free-kick was headed home at the far post and the equaliser came from the penalty spot on the hour.
To their credit the Casuals did not let their heads drop and continued to create chances. Val Newman made it 4-3 in the 75th minute with a fine run and finish. Again it was not enough and Bexhill made it 4-4 with a fortunate equaliser, when a shot was deflected into the path of a Bexhill forward who scored from close range.
With the Icklesham team pushing and looking for the winner that would have kept them up it was Bexhill that netted the decisive goal in the final few minutes, again from the penalty spot. The team can take a lot of credit from the performance in a match they did not deserve to lose.
Photo: David Mayne