Saturday 10th September 2016

[blueboybird]

Well.....it's back. New season, new attempt at re-engaging this almost defunct strand of the forum. Lost motivation last year, but with the Blues starting off well in the Premier Division, I'll try again, if only for a short spell! Who knows, maybe some other club or individual will begin adding their own match reports.... anyway, here is the report from our opening win at Hawkhurst.

Hawkhurst United 2 - 3 Sidley United - ESFL Premier Division

Sidley United began their campaign in the ESFL Premier Division with a win thanks to a brace of penalties from Gary Hempe and a fine strike from young striker Jordan Cole.

Blues took the lead after 7 minutes when the returning Dan Hill showed good feet in the area only to be brought down and the referee duly pointed to the spot. Hempe stepped up and scored comfortably to put Sidley in front.

The rest of the half was a fairly even affair with Hawkhurst's direct style of play generally well controlled by the Sidley defence and Blues looking threatening with pace on the wings.

Sidley got a second penalty on 55 minutes as Elphick beat his man for pace only to be brought down with a desperate sliding takcle, allowing Hempe to score again with ease and at that stage Sidley were comfortable.

However Hawkhurst got a goal back on 65 minutes as a neat turn on the edge of the area allowed the forward to get a shot away which crept into the corner of the net despite Rogers getting a faint hand to the effort.

With around 5 minutes remaining Blues were reduced to 10 men as Hill, already on a yellow card, was shown a second for speaking out of turn to the referee but Blues would defy the disadvantage to score again.

Scrace fed young Jordan Cole who shot powerfully across the goalkeeper and into the net on 87 minutes and Sidley could have had a fourth as Cole and Bailey both had chances against a tired Hawkhurst defence.

But the drama wasn't over. Deep into stoppage time, the referee adjudged that Ben Eldridge clipped the heels of a Hawkhurst forward in the area, giving them a penalty which the striker smashed in to reduce the arrears again.

However that turned out to be the last kick of the game and the Blues went away with 3 hard earned points.

Special mention to Jordan Cole who worked hard and took his chance well and also to another 'old' Sidley player Mickey O'Callaghan on the start of his fourth (we think) stint with the club.

Sidley Team: Rogers, O'Callaghan (Godden), Hempe, Copley, Eldridge, Carey, Hill, Elphick (Bailey), Scrace, Corke, Cole.

[Washboy]

Division 2 - Eastbourne Athletic 3 - 9 Burwash (Steed 36, 78, 84. Martin 33, 72. Pickles 10, 89, Rose 21, 45.)

Having been promoted last season Burwash started their new campaign with a convincing victory at Eastbourne Sports Park although the final score was not a true reflection of the game. Mark Pickles put the visitors ahead on 10 minutes running onto a Kieren Martin cross to fire home. They went further ahead 11 mins later when a Paul Steed free-kick was "headed" in by James Rose (actually came off his nose!). The third was a reverse of the first with Martin slotting home from Pickles pass. 3-0 up in just over half an hour and the man-of the match up to them was Allan Parker-Read, the Burwash keeper who had thwarted Athletic players twice when they were clean through and made some fine saves. They finally did score on 35 mins but straight from the kick-off Paul Steed lobbed the keeper from inside his own half to make it 4-1. Burwash added a fifth right on the break when a Martin shot rebounded off a post for Rose to tap in.
The first 25 minutes of the second half saw Athletic camped in the Burwash half aided by a strong wind and driving rain but the defence held firm with Parker-Read to the fore again. When the weather abated Burwash scored a sixth from the spot following a handball with Martin netting and the seventh followed from Steed with 12 minutes remaining. Athletic kept fighting till the end and added two replies in between Steed completing his hat-trick by running through and rounding the keeper and then Pickles sliced volley from the edge of the area looped high and dropped just under the bar.
A day when everything went in for Burwash and their keeper defied Athletic for long periods of the game.
Home game next week against Bexhill AAC.

[wibby]

Excellent reports , Enjoyable reading