Results Saturday 14th February

[blueboybird]

Sidley United 4 - 1 Icklesham Casuals - Division One

Sidley United returned to winning ways with a comprehensive victory against relegation threatened Icklesham.

Blues began well and were on top early on. They took the lead on 12 minutes as Aaron Cochrane's shot went in off the underside of the bar. Kevin Rose then managed to hit the same bar 3 times all within seconds of each other, but the ball stayed out. He couldn't have done that if he'd tried!

Sidley got the second goal on 35 minutes as a ball over the top saw James Bailey through on goal and he slotted past the Icklesham goalkeeper. There was some temporary uncertainty as the linesman flagged for offside but the referee overruled him, stating the ball came off a defender's head in any case and the goal stood. Correct decision as the ref also admitted it was a very dubious offside in any case.

However at the start of the second half a familiar feeling crept in as Icklesham got a goal back. An attempted cross from wide on the left looped over Skelton and into the net just a minute after the restart and they had a glorious chance to equalise moments later but the forward at the back post put his shot wide.

In other games Sidley have collapsed from winning positions but today they responded and got back on their game and got the third goal on 65 minutes as a Kevin Rose cross found Mark Funnell who headed into the net to calm Sidley nerves.

Sidley then grabbed a fourth as an Adam Day corner was touched into the net by an Icklesham defender with 15 minutes to go (although Mark Chandler claims he studded it in - all those on the sidelines are highly dubious about that!). Sidley old boy Dave Carey came on for Miles and went close with a couple of efforts as the game ran towards the final whistle. Also making a debut was left back Lewis McGuigan who played well.

A good all round performance from Sidley who were well worthy of the 3 points and move on to Hollington United II's next week.

Sidley team: Skelton, May, McGuigan, Chandler, Funnell, Day, Sanderson, Cochrane (Walker), Rose, Bailey (Berwick), Miles (Carey)