Eastbourne United have had a good week. Three wins and a secret* ambition fulfilled, not to mention being top of the early table. On Tuesday night Ringmer felt the force of United’s frontline, and on Saturday (in a hurricane at times), it was Lancing, and Bexhill must have arrived at the Oval with some foreboding. It was justified as Joe Overy took precisely31seconds to open the scoring, slotting home into the bottom corner. The challenge was on and Callum Barlow tested the keeper before James Hull made a run to the far post to score, only to have it ruled offside. United kept probing the Bexhill defence, but they held firm against the onslaught, indeed on the half hour, a cross from Playford came in, Secka was adjudged to have fouled, and it was a Penalty to Bexhill. Up stepped Samways, who smashed it well over the bar. United stepped up the effort, and on 35 minutes Charlie Ball, making his 250th appearance for the club, rounded the right back and slotted home for 2-0. Bexhill though were still fighting, and made it 2-1 with 40 minutes gone. United were miffed, and went straight back up the other end, Ovenden setting up CharlieBall for his second, and United’s third. Ball and Ovenden both went closebefore the break, but on the stroke of half time, Ball set up Barlow to make it 4-1.

The second half started with more of the same. Literally. Less than 30 seconds in, Barlow made it 5-1 and Bexhill were fearing the worse. United dominated, but in a rare foray forward, Bexhill made it 5-2, a sign for Storey to ring the changes as James Stone replaced Barlow. It only took a few minutes for Ball to make it a hat trick, galloping through the offside trap to slot home. Kartal replaced James Hull, as the pressure stayed on - Stone narrowly missed from Ovendens corner, before the subs combined to set up Ball for his fourth, and it was seven for United. In the dying minutes, it was Ball again who rounded the defence, and with the goal beckoning, selflessly pulled the ball back to Stone, who made it 8-2. The half time score doubled, the referee called time and United celebrated in style, leaving Bexhill to lick their wounds. Oh, and that “secret” ambition? Yes, that too - it is now a full year since Eastbourne United lost a league game at the Oval.

This weekend United travel to Guernsey for what is sure to be a real stern test of their ambitions before coming back to the Oval on Tuesday for a Sussex Senior Cup tie against in-form Varndeanians.